Title: The Case of the Chicken Pox
Author: Ann
Pairing: Catherine/Sara
Fandoms: CSI
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation whatsoever with this wonderful show
Sunnary: Catherine feels responsible for Sara's exposure to the chicken pox so she offers to care for her when she contracts the illness.

***

Part 1

"Are you sure? . . . Yes, I guess you would be . . . I don't know . . . I'll have to ask her . . . How long will you be out? . . . Okay, I'll check back with you later."

Gil Grissom hangs up the phone with a sigh. He is dreading the confrontation he is about to have with Sara Sidle. Nothing is ever easy with Sara and this is really going to piss her off.

Grissom strides into the break room to find Nick, Warrick, Greg, and Sara sitting around the table waiting for their assignments. "Nick, Greg, DB at the Sands. Warrick, suspicious circs at the Silverton Hotel Casino. Sara, I'd like to talk to you in my office."

The three men look over at Sara and can almost see smoke coming from her nostrils and steam from her ears. They each wish Grissom good luck and quickly flee the room. Grissom motions toward the door and waits for Sara to get up. Murmuring under her breath, she rises and follows Grissom to his office.

Sara walks in and plops down in the chair waiting for Grissom to get on with it so she can get to whatever scene she is assigned. She knows she hasn't done anything inappropriate in quite some time, so she's not worried about a reprimand.

Grissom walks around the desk and sits on its edge. He looks over at Sara who is staring right back at him. "Er . . . um . . . Sara, have you ever had the chicken pox?"

Sara, not expecting a question of this nature, appropriately responds "What?"

Grissom takes his glasses off and begins to clean them, a tell-tale sign of nervousness. "Well, Catherine called earlier and it seems young Lindsey has contracted a case of the chicken pox. Catherine has requested time off this week to care for her. She also wanted to let you know since you spent time with Lindsey and her cousin Jeremy a couple of Saturday's ago that you too may have been exposed. It seems Jeremy is the culprit."

Sara intelligently answers "Oh." After a couple of minutes, she adds "I'm not sure Grissom. It's not like I had the type of parents who would keep track of such a thing. I don't remember having any kind of measles or chicken pox."

Grissom nods and says "Let's be on the safe side. Why don't you take the next couple of days off? Go see a doctor tomorrow to determine if you are displaying any of the symptoms. Find out the incubation period and come back when you are sure you are in the clear."

Sara defiantly responds "You've got to be kidding me. I feel perfectly fine. There is nothing that is interfering with me doing me job."

Grissom walks around and leans on the desk. "Sara, I can not let you go out into the public and possibly expose someone to this disease. You have to go home. Don't argue with me. Just go home."

Sara bolts from the chair and leaves the building. Getting into her truck, she drives directly home. First thing in the morning, she is making a doctor's appointment to get this nonsense over with.

Grissom picks up the phone and dials a familiar number. "Hi, Catherine. How is Lindsey feeling?.....Yes, I talked to her and she is not happy…..She doesn't know if she's ever had them…..She's going to the doctor tomorrow.…No, I wouldn't call her tonight. It will only make things worse….I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Hanging up, Grissom picks up the extra assignment slip and heads out the door to meet Brass at his crime scene. His thoughts immediately turn to Sara. 'Heaven help us if she has contracted this illness.'

Sara awakens the next morning bathed in sweat. 'What the hell? My throat is so sore and my back is killing me.' She gets up and staggers into the bathroom. Wetting a washcloth, she wipes her face and neck.

Sara looks into the mirror to see a few small red splotches on her face. 'Oh, shit.' The phone rings pulling her from her thoughts. "Hello….Hey, Catherine….Yeah, Grissom told me…. I think may have them….Fever, aches, sore throat, splotches….Well, thank you so much, Doctor Willows….what?....No, Catherine….I can't live over there….No, there's no one….Okay….Okay……Okay!....I'll be ready."

Sara hangs up the phone and begins to pack a bag. She calls and leaves a message for Grissom letting him know she'll be staying with Catherine. Shaking her head, she can't believe she agreed to this.

A knock sounds at the door and Sara opens it to find Catherine. "Catherine, I thought you were sending a cab. What are you doing here? Where's Lindsey?"

Catherine walks in and replies "Calm down, Sara. My mom is staying with her until we get back. Since we've both had the chicken pox and been exposed to Jeremy, I think we're in the clear. Now, is this all you need?"

Sara nods and Catherine takes her bag as she leads the way to the car. Sara buckles in and lays her head back on the seat. She falls asleep as soon as the car turns the first corner.

Catherine pulls up in her driveway and reaches over to wake Sara. "Hey, Sara. We're here. C'mon, wake up. I have a nice bed waiting for you inside."

Sara mumbles "Will you sleep with me?" Catherine laughs and replies "No, but you will be sleeping with a Willows."

Catherine gets out and moves to the passenger side. Opening the door, she helps Sara out. Together, the two walk toward the front door.

They are greeted at the entrance by Catherine's mother. Introductions are made and Catherine leads Sara down the hall to the master bedroom where there is already a small lump in the bed.

Helping Sara off with her jeans, Catherine tucks her in the bed with Lindsey. Sara, temporarily coherent, asks "Wait. This is your bed. I can sleep on the floor."

Catherine answers "Nonsense. It will be easier to take care of you and Lindsey if you're in the same room. Now, shut up and go to sleep."

As Catherine leaves the room she hears "I've been kidnapped by the spawn of Florence Nightingale and Nurse Ratchet."

Catherine answers "I don't think that's scientifically possible even with medical assistance" as she closes the door to the room.

 

Part 2

Sara is awakened by Catherine's voice. Thinking she's dreaming, she pulls the covers around her more tightly and ignores the voice. She sits straight up in bed when the covers are jerked off her. She looks to the side to see Lindsey still peacefully sleeping under her own blanket.

"Sara Sidle, don't you even think of ignoring me. Now, move over here and take this pill." Sara slides toward the edge of the bed and looks down at the pill in Catherine's hand. Curiously she asks "What is it?"

Catherine places the pill in Sara's hand. "It's Zovirax. I have a good friend who is a doctor. He said adult cases of chicken pox are more severe. He suggested you take a round of Zovirax immediately to help with the pain and future itching. He gave me enough samples for a week. I hope you like milk because you can't take this on an empty stomach."

Sara turns the pill over and over in her hand. "Wait a minute. I've seen ads for this stuff. It's for herpes! I'm not taking this." She tries to shove the pill back in Catherine's hand.

Catherine grabs Sara's hand and says "You are taking this. Yes, one of its uses is for genital herpes, but chicken pox is a form of herpes. Now, open your mouth and take this pill!"

Lindsey rolls over and looks at the two bickering adults. "Mommy, what's wrong? Why is Sara in my bed and why are you two fighting?"

Catherine glares at Sara before moving around to Lindsey's side of the bed. "Hey, sweetie. I'm sorry we woke you. Sara has the chicken pox too, so she's going to stay here with you and keep you company."

Lindsey closes her eyes and turns back over saying "Okay, just don't talk so loud."

Catherine makes her way back to Sara and whispers "Sara, please take this medicine. John said you could really have a hard time with this. I promise it will help. Please."

Sara looks back and forth from Catherine to the pill. Finally, she places it in her mouth and reaches for the glass of milk on the nightstand. After downing the liquid, she turns to Catherine and says "Happy? If I get sores you know where after this, I am going to infect you as well."

Catherine throws her head back and laughs. "I'd like to see you try, Sidle. You do know we'd have to have sexual intercourse for me to contract your imaginary genital herpes."

Speechless, Sara turns red and pulls the covers over her head as Catherine leaves the room once again.

Catherine makes her way into the kitchen and places the glass in the dishwasher. Lily comes in and asks "How are the patients?"

Catherine turns and answers "Sara is going to be a royal pain in the ass. Lindsey is the perfect patient. She's acting more like an adult than Sara."

Lily sits at the table and watches Catherine closely. "You know, Catherine. It sure was nice of you to offer to take care of Sara. You are going to have your hands full with Lindsey as it is."

Catherine fidgets with the dishtowel before responding. "Well, I do feel somewhat guilty about Sara contracting the virus. If she hadn't taken Lindsey and Jeremy to the planetarium and the zoo a couple of weeks ago, then she would be okay today."

Lily begins to take mental notes. "Why exactly did Sara offer to take the kids? She's done that several times, hasn't she?" Catherine nods as she moves to sit at the table with her mother.

Catherine shakes her head and says "Sara has been very good to Lindsey since Eddie's death. She goes out of her way to take her on outings. Lindsey loves her time with Sara. And of course, she asks Jeremy to accompany them on some of the outings. He thinks Sara hung the moon."

Lily decides it's time for 'the' question. "And how do you feel about Sara, Catherine? Do you think she's hung the moon as well?"

Catherine's head snaps up as she answers "What are you implying, mother? Sara is a colleague and a friend, nothing more."

Lily reaches over and squeezes Catherine's hand. "Catherine, methinks you doth protest too much." Catherine pulls her hand from her mother's grasp and moves to the kitchen window.

Lily gets up and walks toward Catherine. "Catherine, I'm sorry I've upset you. But you clearly have more than friendly feelings for Sara. The way you smile when you talk about your cases at work. The gleam in your eye when you tell me about the outings she takes Lindsey on. The way you got so upset when you realized Sara may have contracted the illness as well."

Catherine turns around with tears in her eyes and looks down at her mother. "Oh, mom. I am attracted to her. She is so smart and kind and beautiful and she always gives me a run for my money. I really like her, but there is no way anything can come of this."

Lily smiles and asks "Why not, Catherine? Is it because you're two women? That hasn't stopped you before." Catherine is clearly shocked as she looks at her mother. "Oh come now, Catherine. I know about the few girls you've dated. It doesn't bother me. I just want you to be happy. Now, tell me why Sara can't make you happy?"

Catherine falls into her mother's arms as she cries "Because she's straight, mom, because she's straight." Lily hugs Catherine and rubs her back as she allows her to cry.

After a few minutes, Lily pulls back and wipes the tears from Catherine's face. "Catherine, what makes you think Sara is straight?"

Catherine moves to the desk in the corner of the kitchen and retrieves a few tissues. After wiping her face, she replies "Sara has a thing for Gil. Granted he doesn't give her the time of day, but it's obvious she would love to have a relationship with him. And then she recently dated Hank, one of the paramedics. Sara was broken hearted when she found out he was using her."

Lily mentally keeps score before asking "How long has Sara been working at the lab?"

Catherine responds "Just over three years. What does that have to do with anything?"

Lily smiles and points out the obvious. "Catherine, in three years time, Sara has only dated one man. Gil doesn't count since she never actually dated him. What has she been doing with her free time?"

Catherine frowns before replying. "I don't know. She doesn't confide in me. We've only recently become civil to each other and that's because of Lindsey. I still don't see what you're getting at."

Lily walks over to Catherine and takes hold of both of her hands. "Catherine, look how many men you've dated in the past three years and yet you still date women on occasion. You are assuming Sara is straight because of a couple of dates with a two timing loser and a possible attraction to an obvious unattainable Gil. I believe you may be mistaken about Sara. All I ask is for you to think about it."

Lily releases Catherine's hands and walks from the room leaving Catherine alone to contemplate her words.

 

Part 3

Sara awakens to soft voices in the room. Slightly disoriented, it takes a few minutes for her to remember where she is. She turns over to see Catherine handing Lindsey some pills and a glass of water. In an excited voice, Sara asks "Catherine, you aren't giving Lindsey the same medicine you're giving me are you?"

Catherine takes a deep breath before replying "No, Sara. I'm giving Lindsey baby Tylenol for her low grade fever. It looks like she's going to have a mild case. You on the other hand have more spots on your face. Let me see your chest and arms."

Sara's eyes get large and she folds her arms over her chest as Catherine nears. "You can look at my arms, but you're not looking at my chest." Catherine rolls her eyes as she takes a hold of Sara's arms to check for spots.

Catherine finishes her inspection saying "Not too bad for now. You just have a few spots on each arm. Now, will you at least let me see your stomach?" Sara thinks for a minute before carefully lifting her shirt, stopping before revealing her breasts.

Catherine sighs and leans forward to look for possible rashes or spots. "Okay, you can put your shirt down. You have a few spots, but nothing major. We'll know by tomorrow how bad your case will be. In the meantime, I brought you some Tylenol to keep your fever from spiking."

Sara dutifully takes the glass of water and downs the pills. Catherine informs her she will bring in something light to eat in a couple of hours. As she is walking toward the door, Sara calls out "Catherine, um, thanks for offering to take care of me. As you can see, I'm not a very good patient, but I promise to work harder at it. I am just not used to having anyone care for me."

Catherine, clear touched, answers "You're welcome, Sara." Before closing the door, Catherine adds "I'm going to hold you to that promise."

Catherine walks into the master bedroom later to find both Lindsey and Sara scratching their arms and necks. "Hey, you two, stop that. You are going to make the blisters worse. I'll be right back. Don't you dare scratch while I'm gone."

As Catherine leaves the room, Lindsey and Sara look at each other. In silent agreement, the two discretely scratch a spot here and there. Both sets of hands immediately move to the covers as Catherine reappears with a bottle of Calydryl and some cotton balls.

Moving first to Lindsey, Catherine begins to apply a thin layer over the visible spots. "This will not get rid of the spots, but it should help with the itching. I'll make you two an oatmeal bath later."

Sara and Lindsey both cringe at the thought. Sara adds "I hope you don't serve us the leftovers for breakfast." Lindsey immediately begins to giggle though Catherine does not seem amused.

After slathering Lindsey, Catherine moves to Sara. Sara puts out her arms and Catherine covers her spots. Next, she gently applies some to Sara's face and neck. She hands Sara the bottle and a new cotton ball. "Here. You put on the rest and I'll go get the soup."

Sara begins her stomach and chest application as Catherine leaves the room. She almost drops the bottle when Lindsey asks "Hey, Sara. How come mom didn't finish putting the stuff on you like she did with me?"

Sara quickly answers "She probably had the soup on the stove and was afraid it was going to boil over. Besides, she put most of the stuff on me. Hey, this stuff kind of works. I'm not feeling as itchy; how about you?"

Lindsey pauses as if in deep thought. "You're right, Sara. I don't itch as much. Do you think we're cured?" Sara smiles and answers "No, Linds, but I wish we were."

Catherine reappears carrying a tray with Lily behind toting one as well. Catherine moves to Lindsey's side of the bed. "Okay, sweetie, sit up against the headboard so I can put this down in your lap. You're going to have to be very careful not to spill. I put your soup in a mug so you can drink it instead of using a spoon. I made sure that it's not too hot. I've got some juice in this glass."

Lindsey looks up with at her mom clearly unhappy. "You put my juice in a sippy cup? Mom, I'm ten. I don't want to use this." Catherine smiles and replies "Linds, I just changed these sheets. I would like to go a few days before changing them again. Please, will you just go along with this for me? Look Sara's not complaining about her sippy cup."

Sara, who had been thoroughly enjoying the exchange between mother and daughter, immediately shifts her attention to the tray being handed to her by Lily. Sure enough, a mug of soup and a sippy cup are located dead center on the tray.

Sara turns toward Catherine to express her displeasure, but decides to keep her mouth shut when she notices Lindsey's eyes on her. Remembering her earlier promise, she plays along. "Great idea, Catherine, this should keep spillage to a minimum."

Relived, Catherine smiles as Sara lifts the sippy cup to her lips and takes a drink. Lindsey deciding that it must be okay if Sara doesn't complain picks up her own cup. The two alternate between the soup and juice.

Catherine hands Sara another Zovirax and informs her that the doctor has prescribed one tablet to be taken four times a day. Sara looks at Lindsey and once again keeps her response to herself.

Before leaving the room, Catherine notices Sara rubbing her back against the headboard. She walks back toward Sara and asks to see her back. Sara hesitates and then leans forward after handing Catherine her tray. Catherine places the tray on the nightstand and carefully lifts Sara's shirt to find numerous bumps. She puts Sara's shirt down and retrieves the Calydryl.

Catherine returns to the kitchen with the empty trays, mugs, and cups. Lily helps her rinse the dishes and put up the trays. "Catherine, I need to run some errands and go home for a little while. Will you be okay here without me?"

Catherine sighs before replying "Yes. The two have gone back to sleep, so I'm going to lie down and take a nap while things are relatively calm. I have a short grocery list on the fridge if you wouldn't mind picking up a few things. I'll call you if I need you. Thanks for everything, mom."

Lily retrieves the list and picks up her purse. "Make sure you rest, Catherine. Don't let yourself get run down. I'll pick up these things and be back this evening. Don't hesitate to call. I'll have my cell on." Kissing Catherine's cheek, she leaves.

Catherine makes sure the door is open to the master bedroom before climbing into Lindsey's bed. The earlier conversation with her mother plays over and over again in her head. Is it possible? Could Sara be gay?

 

Part 4

A couple of hours later, Catherine awakens from an erotic dream involving Sara and an oatmeal bath. Sitting up, she realizes Lindsey is calling. Catherine jumps out of bed and runs to the master bedroom where she finds Lindsey sitting against the headboard looking down at Sara.

Catherine quickly makes her way to Lindsey. "What's the matter, sweetie? Are you feeling ill?" Lindsey turns to Catherine and responds "No, mom. But Sara is really hot. Her shirt is really wet." Catherine immediately turns her attention to Sara.

Sara is shivering and her shirt is indeed sopping wet. Catherine moves to feel her forehead. "Shit." Lindsey opens her mouth to reprimand her mother, but Catherine appeases her by adding "Sorry, Linds. I'll add a dollar to the swear jar later. I'm just really worried about Sara."

Picking up the phone, Catherine calls John. "Yes, this is Catherine Willows calling for Dr. John Martin . . . Yes, I'll hold . . . John, it's Catherine. My friend Sara is running a pretty high temp . . . Yes, I gave her some Tylenol earlier, but it's probably time for more . . . What? . . . I'll give it a try . . . Thanks, John . . . Bye."

Catherine turns to Lindsey and says "Hey Linds, watch Sara for me while I go run a cool bath." Lindsey agrees as Catherine moves to the bathroom.

Returning, Catherine pulls Sara to the edge of the bed. "Sara, I need for you to get up and come with me to the bathroom." Sara groggily replies "Cath? Why do I need to go to the bathroom? I don't need to pee. Leave me alone." Lindsey giggles as she watches the two.

Catherine swings Sara's legs around and lifts her by the arms until she is sitting on the edge of the bed. Sara opens her eyes and looks directly at Catherine. "Cath? What are you doing? I don't want to get up."

Catherine continues pulling a dead weight Sara forward. "Sara, you are burning up. John said you needed to take a cool bath. It will make you feel better. Now, c'mon and help me here."

Sara deliriously answers "Okay, but only for you Cath. Cause you're my Cath. No one else's, just mine." Catherine almost drops Sara to the floor but manages to get her upright with some clumsy help from Sara.

The two finally make it to the master bath. Catherine puts down the toilet seat and helps Sara sit. She turns off the bath water and begins to undress Sara. Sara pulls her shirt down every time Catherine lifts it up. Becoming exasperated, Catherine says, "Damn it, Sara. You've got to take off your shirt and underwear before you get into the tub."

Sara shakes her head back and forth as she replies "Uh uh. I'm not getting naked in front of you. You're beautiful and I don't want you to see my ugly body." Catherine kneels before Sara and places her hands on Sara's fevered face. "Sara, you are not ugly. You are so beautiful. You know I would never ask this of you if I weren't trying to help you get better."

Sara stares at Catherine for several minutes before saying "I'm scared. I don't want to be naked by myself. Will you get naked with me, Catherine?" Catherine stops herself from telling Sara how much she would love to be naked with her, but instead replies "Sara, it will be alright. I'm going to help you get better. You just have to trust me. Do you trust me, Sara?"

Sara shakes her head yes and moves her hands to her shirt hem. With Catherine's help, the two manage to remove Sara's shirt revealing a very tone body and firm breasts. Catherine keeps her focus on Sara's face and smiles reassuringly while concentrating on maintaining control of her salivary glands.

Catherine helps Sara to her feet and together they remove her underwear before walking toward the tub. Sara leans on Catherine as she steps into the tub and carefully sits in the cool water. Chill bumps immediately appear on her skin. Catherine takes the washcloth and begins to wash Sara's back and neck as Sara finally begins to relax.

Catherine instructs Sara to lie back in the water. Sara complies and leans back against the tub closing her eyes as she lays her head on the rim. Catherine wets the cloth and squeezes the water over Sara's torso which leads to the awakening of Sara's nipples. Catherine swallows and concentrates on keeping the process clinical.

As she submerges the cloth for another pass, she can't help admiring Sara's other attributes. A washboard stomach, slim hips, well-toned thigh muscles and calves, and slender feet. As she once again squeezes the water over Sara, her eyes focus on the one area she had previously avoided, a dark haired triangle leading to points unseen.

Catherine forces herself to move her attention back to Sara's face. Even with her flushed cheeks, Sara is truly a vision of beauty. Catherine moves the rag to gently wipe Sara's forehead and cheeks. Sara opens her eyes and smiles at Catherine. Returning the smile, Catherine continues the bathing process.

Tucking Sara back into bed after helping her put on dry clothes, Catherine turns her attention to a sleeping Lindsey. Feeling her forehead, Catherine is relieved to find it cool. She instructs Sara to stay awake for a few more minutes while she retrieves the Tylenol.

After dispensing the medication, Catherine returns to the den and plops down on the couch. Lying down, she reviews her latest care giving venture. Rubbing her face, she tries to remove the images of a naked Sara Sidle from her brain. Giving up, Catherine lets the visuals loose. 'What a perfect body. It would feel so good to be wrapped up in those arms, better yet, wrapped up in those legs.' Frustrated, Catherine gets up and moves into the kitchen.

 

Part 5

Catherine sits at the table with a cup of coffee. Her mind wanders back to Sara and the bathing incident; however, this time she concentrates on the things Sara said. 'What did she mean by my Catherine? She must have been delirious, but was there some underlying truth in anything she said? And the bit about being naked together, what was that all about?'

Catherine is once more pulled from her thoughts by Lindsey's voice. She quickly gets up and heads to the bedroom. "Hey baby, what's the matter? Can't sleep?" Lindsey looks up at her mother and says "I'm starting to itch again, mommy. I can't sleep when I'm itching."

Catherine applies more lotion which seems to provide relief for Lindsey. She feels her forehead before walking around to check on Sara. Sara has kicked off her covers and is on her stomach with her arms under the pillow. Catherine reaches down and checks for fever. Relieved by the difference in temperature from earlier, she pulls the sheet up to cover Sara's legs. Lindsey informs her mother that she can sleep some more, so Catherine once again leaves her two patients. On the way out, she realizes this is going to be one of the longest weeks of her life.

The sound of the doorbell echoes through the house. Catherine moves to the door to find Greg standing there with his hands in his pockets. "Hey, Catherine, um, I um, was wondering if you needed any help with your patients?"

Catherine opens the door and invites Greg in muttering "more like patience." Greg oblivious to Catherine's mumblings adds "I know how bored Sara can get and I would imagine Lindsey is going to be the same way. Do you have a TV in your room?" Puzzled, Catherine answers "No, why?"

Greg responds "Well, the lab got some new Dell XPS M170 notebook computers. They have all the bells and whistles plus a 17 inch display. Archie was told to have everything installed and ready to go in two weeks. He told me he only needed a day to install all the software, but Ecklie doesn't know that. So the two of us thought we could take one and load all kinds of cool games so Sara and Lindsey could play. They could also watch movies and stuff like that."

Catherine thinks for a minute before replying "I don't think it would be a good idea to use the lab's equipment without permission, but I appreciate the thought."

Greg grins saying "Well, it was worth a shot. I didn't think you would go for it. I really do feel sorry for you when the two of them start to feel better but will still have to be isolated. I guess I better go. Call if you need anything."

As Catherine walks Greg to the door, she begins to imagine how difficult it will be to keep Sara and Lindsey occupied when they start to feel better. When Greg steps outside, he is stopped by Catherine's voice. "Wait a minute, Greg. I may have been too hasty in my decision. Tell me again about this plan you and Archie have come up with." Greg smiles as he walks back into the house.

Catherine tiptoes into the master bedroom. Both patients appear to be resting comfortably. She moves over to Sara's side to find her awake. Reaching to feel her forehead, Catherine says "Good afternoon, Sara. How are you doing?"

Sara grunts back "How do you think I'm feeling? I feel like crap." A small voice from behind pipes up "Mom, Sara cursed. She owes the swear jar a dollar." Catherine laughs as she replies "Yes, she does honey. I'll be sure to keep a tally sheet. I have a feeling Sara is going to owe the jar quite a bit of money before she leaves."

Sara opens her mouth to put in her two cents, but quickly closes it before it turns into a dollar. Without thinking, Catherine leans down to press her lips to Sara's forehead. Sara moves away and says "Hey. What are you doing?" Before Catherine can respond, Lindsey calmly replies "She's checking your temperature, Sara. Everyone knows that's how mom's check for fever."

Sara mumbles out "My mother never did." She then clears her throat and sarcastically adds "Ever heard of a thermometer. I have been told they work very well." Catherine caught off guard by the caustic remark, turns and leaves the room.

Sara closes her eyes while saying "Shit." Of course, Lindsey immediately responds with "That's another dollar." The two lie in silence until Lindsay finally says "You hurt mom's feelings. I'm mad at you, Sara." Sara answers "I'm mad at me too, Linds."

Catherine sits on the couch with her head in her hands. 'How could I have been so stupid? I didn't even realize what I was doing. I was on automatic having always checked Lindsey's fever in that manner. Boy, Sara really let me have it. I guess I know for sure what she thinks of me now. I just didn't think it would hurt so much.'

Sara, deciding she needs to apologize for her behavior, gets out of bed to go find Catherine. She is almost to the door before the dizziness causes her to stop and sit on the floor. She puts her head down between her knees to keep from passing out. Lindsey, who has been silently watching Sara's progress, says "You aren't supposed to get out of bed. See what happens when you don't listen to mom. You better get back over here before she comes back."

Sara would like nothing more than to return to the bed, but is currently unable to comply with Lindsey's demand. In fact, she decides lying down on the floor is the best course of action at the moment which draws more chastisement from Lindsey. "Sara, you are going to make mom really mad if you keep lying on the floor. You're sick and need to be in bed."

Sara silently mutters "No shit." She glances at the bed to see if Lindsey overheard her. Satisfied that she is still only down $2, Sara turns on her side and closes her eyes hoping she will be able to return to the bed after resting for a few minutes.

Catherine returns to the room after thirty minutes with juice and crackers. As she steps across the threshold, she puts the tray on the floor and rushes to Sara. "Sara, what are you doing out of bed?" Lindsey pipes up "I told her to get back in the bed, mom. She wouldn't listen to me."

Catherine tries to get Sara into a sitting position. Sara, content with her current situation, curls into a ball on the floor. "Sara Sidle, quit fighting me and let me help you back into the bed." Sara stubbornly stays in a tight ball. Catherine looks to Lindsey for information. "Linds, why did Sara get out of the bed?" Lindsey answers "I think she was looking for you, but I'm not sure."

Catherine pinches the sides of her nose to try to stop the beginning of a major headache. "Lindsey, how long has she been on the floor?" Lindsey shrugs her shoulders and says "For a little while." Catherine once again works with Sara to try to coax her into sitting up. "Lindsey, did she fall? And why didn't you call me to come help her?"

Lindsey thinks for a minute before replying "She didn't fall. She just sat down on the floor, then she bent over, then she just laid there. I didn't call you because I'm mad at her." Catherine closes her eyes and lets out a huge sigh. "Okay Sara, you are getting off this floor and I mean now."

Sara sensing the tone of Catherine's voice immediately tries to sit up and is assisted by Catherine. Together they manage to get Sara standing and she leans heavily against Catherine as they move to the bed. Sara manages to flop onto the bed as Catherine pulls the covers around her.

"Lindsey, I don't know what you are mad about, but don't you ever let Sara suffer like this again." Lindsey looks to her mom with tears in her eyes. "But mom …" is all she gets out as Catherine continues "Don't mom me. I mean it Linds. This is serious." Lindsey nods her head as tears make their way down her cheeks.

Sara finds the strength to pull Lindsey into a hug before responding. "Don't blame Lindsey, Catherine. It was my fault. I'm the one who got out of bed and she has every reason to be mad at me. I acted like an ass and I am so sorry for my behavior earlier. I deserve to sleep on the floor permanently. You have so graciously offered to take care of me and I turn around and hurt you. I truly am sorry for my words." After a few moments, she asks "Um, by the way, ass isn't a swear word is it?" Lindsey, now smiling, nods her head in the affirmative.

 

Part 6

Day two finds both patients in a permanent itch mode. Catherine comes in and trims both of their fingernails and threatens to put socks on their hands. Sara has broken out with quite a few spots on her back and torso, but no more on her face, neck, or arms. Lindsey has pretty much stayed the same except for a few more spots on her arms and legs. Both are running a low grade fever and are in a perpetual grumpy mood.

Catherine begins to prepare an oatmeal bath for the pair, but they both balk at the idea. Lily comes in to mediate between the threesome and suggests a lukewarm bath with neem leaves to help with the itching. Sara has no idea what neem leaves are, but decides they sound infinitely better than oatmeal. Lily offers to make the trip to the health food store to find the leaves while Catherine takes the oatmeal back to the kitchen.

Lindsey and Sara have formed a very strong bond in their two days of captivity. They slather each other with Calydryl and play lookout for Catherine when the need to scratch takes over. Lindsey has even talked to Sara about Eddie. She admits her dad let her down on numerous occasions and that he would sometimes be more interested in his girlfriends than her, but she still loves him and misses him.

Later in the morning, Greg drops off the computer along with a power cord. Sara and Lindsey are able to play a few games, but sleep seems to be the highest priority for the two. Catherine makes the most of the time her patients are sleeping by doing chores and resting herself.

After serving lunch, Catherine starts on the dishes when she is interrupted by the doorbell. Wiping her hands on a cloth, she opens the door and comes face to face with Grissom. "Gil, what are you doing here?" Grissom holds up a few magazines and says "I thought Sara might like to read a few of the latest forensic magazines. May I see her?"

Catherine immediately responds "I don't think that is a good idea, Gil. The doctor said Lindsey and Sara need to stay in isolation and have contact with as few people as possible. I can give them to her for you." Grissom counters with "I would really like to see Sara. I've already had the chicken pox."

Catherine hesitates for a few moments before replying "Gil, why are you really here? Now is not the time to play with Sara's emotions. She is really sick and she needs all her energy channeled toward getting better. She does not need you to come in here and confuse her. I'll give her the magazines and tell her you stopped by."

Grissom hands over the magazines and replies "Thank you, Catherine." He turns and walks away.

Catherine watches as Grissom gets into his car and drives off. She can't believe his audacity. 'Classic Grissom, he didn't even ask how Lindsey and Sara were doing. I can't believe him. What gall! He just thought he was going to come over here and mess with Sara's head. Well, not on my watch.'

As she shuts the door, Catherine reviews her actions and realizes the true reason she kept Grissom from Sara. She drops head her in shame. 'Jealous much, Catherine?' Turning, she sees her mother watching her from the kitchen. Lily smiles and asks "Where did Mr. Grissom get off to? I thought he was here to see Sara?"

Catherine closes her eyes and rubs her forehead. "Every now and then he shows an interest in Sara and gets her hopes up only to be dashed when he turns cold and distant. He has such power over her and I don't want her to be hurt."

Lily moves to the couch and sits down. "Catherine, come over here and sit with me for a few minutes." Catherine walks to the couch and takes a seat. Lily pats her lap and Catherine sighs before laying her head in her mother's lap. She closes her eyes as Lily strokes her hair.

Lily begins the conversation. "When you were a little girl, you would always lay your head in my lap like this and tell me all your problems. Together we would come up with a solution for each and every one. Do you remember that?"

Catherine smiles and says "Yes, I do. But those days are over mom. My problems are much more complicated than they used to be. Unfortunately, this particular problem doesn't have a solution. Or at least one I can be happy with."

Lily continues stroking Catherine's hair before replying "You need to talk to Sara." Catherine begins to sit up, but Lily motions her back down. "Just listen to me for a minute. You don't have to come right out and tell her how you feel. Talk to her about things other than your job or your co-workers or the chicken pox. Find out what she thinks about love and relationships and family. You can find out all sorts of things about a person from these topics."

Catherine closes her eyes and considers her mother's advice. "Mom, how am I going to talk to Sara about anything with Lindsey in the room? She certainly doesn't need to hear her mom make a fool out of herself, and I don't think Sara will open up to anything in front of Lindsey."

Lily calmly replies "Catherine, Lindsey is going to get over the chicken pox days before Sara. The effects always linger longer with adults. She is going to be weak as a kitten."

Catherine takes a few minutes to think through the possible scenarios. "Great. How am I going to get her to stay here after Lindsey's well? In her mind, I think she rationalizes that she's helping Lindsey so that she doesn't feel dependent on me. The minute Lindsey leaves the room; she's going to want to go home."

Lily laughs and says "Sara can want all kind of things, but there is no way she will be able to leave this house without some sort of assistance. I don't think she will be able to make it to this couch without help. Trust me; you'll have a couple of days of a captive Sara to carry on all sorts of conversations. Now, you lie here and rest and I'll go check on our patients."

Catherine stares up at the ceiling in deep thought. 'I wish I could just come out and tell Sara how I feel, but she probably would crawl all the way home to get away from me. How in the world can I broach the subject of love and relationships with her? She is such a closed book. She's never even talks about her family. I wonder if I should start with discussing her childhood. Yeah, that should be a safe subject.'

 

Part 7

Lily returns to the den to update Catherine. Both Sara and Lindsey are running a much higher temperature so Lily suggests the use of cool baths since it worked for Sara before. She volunteers to handle Lindsey in the hall bath tub while Catherine once again deals with Sara.

Catherine lifts Lindsey from the bed and carries her to the bathroom while Lily follows closely behind. After getting Lindsey settled into the water, Catherine returns to talk Sara into her second bath of the day. As expected Sara once again digs her heels in. "Catherine, I bathed with those damn leaves this morning. Why do I have to take another bath?"

Catherine holding onto the few threads of patience she still has, says "Sara, your temperature is going up. I think we should try the cool bath to stop your fever from getting any higher. Last time, you were delirious with fever and very difficult to deal with, even more so than now. You were talking out of your head."

Sara immediately gives Catherine her full attention. "What do you mean by talking out of my head? What did I say?" Catherine trying to smooth things over replies "Nothing major, no blackmail material at all. You just didn't want to get out of bed." Sara takes on a skeptical look. "Catherine, you would not have described me as delirious if I didn't say something inappropriate or out of character."

Catherine steers the conversation back to the current bath. "Sara, we will have plenty of time later to discuss this matter. Right now, we need to get you into a cool bath to control your fever. Please don't argue about this with me now." Sara acquiesces to Catherine's request only because of her fear of becoming delirious again.

Catherine assists Sara into the bathroom and helps her sit on the edge of the tub. Sara holds on with both hands to keep from falling. While Catherine draws her bath, Sara's mind goes into overdrive. 'What could I have said? I sure hope I didn't transport back in time and talk about my childhood. Catherine would have sent me packing if that was the case. No, that couldn't be it. What else? Oh, shit. Please don't let me have come on to her.'

Sara is brought out of her musing by Catherine turning off the water and moving back to her side. Catherine looks down at Sara hoping for cooperation and not a repeat performance of Sara's obstinance. "Okay, Sara. Let's get you out of these clothes and into the water." Sara remembering Lily's help from this morning asks "Where's Lily? Can't she help me? You should be with Lindsey."

Catherine counts to ten before replying. "Mother is with Lindsey. She can handle her, but she is not strong enough to keep you from falling. You were not as weak this morning. Right now, you can barely hold onto the tub. Now, you are going to have to get over this problem of me seeing you naked. I've already seen you once, so this should be no big deal."

As Catherine moves to lift Sara's shirt, Sara reaches up to stop her and loses her balance. She begins to fall backward and Catherine immediately grabs her and pulls her close. Sara weakly wraps her arms around Catherine and closes her eyes as she listens to the rapid beating of Catherine's heart. The two relish the embrace without the other's knowledge of the enjoyment.

After a few minutes, Catherine breaks her hold and steadies Sara on the bath tub edge. "Okay. I think that's enough excitement for today. What do you say we try this again?" Sara, not able to respond with her emotions running so close to the surface, nods and begins to remove her shirt. The rest of the bathing process runs smoothly except for Catherine's occasional roving eye.

Sara is helped back into the bed and Catherine leaves to assist Lily with Lindsey allowing Sara to be alone with her thoughts. 'It felt so good to be in Catherine's embrace. It was so warm and safe. I could have stayed in her arms forever. In fact, I wish I could stay here with her and Lindsey always, but I will just have to enjoy the short time I have with them even if I'm not in the best of health."

Catherine returns and places Lindsey into bed with Sara. Lindsey rolls over and says "I feel much better. I don't feel as hot as before; how about you Sara?" Sara smiles and responds "The bath really helped. Good thing we've got your mom and grandmother to look out for us, huh?" Lindsey whole heartedly agrees.

Lindsey talks Sara into watching "Finding Nemo" with her and the two settle back against the headboard. The minute Nemo gets lost in the ocean, Lindsey puts her head in Sara's lap. Half way into the movie, Lindsey falls asleep. Sara begins to tire, but stays in her uncomfortable position so as not to wake Lindsey.

Catherine comes in as the movie nears its conclusion. Noticing Sara's predicament, Catherine lifts Lindsey off of Sara and back onto her pillow. Sara immediately goes through a stretching routine to work out the kinks. Catherine sits on the edge of the bed and addresses Sara. "Hey, Grissom came by earlier and dropped off these magazines. He thought you might be bored and want something to read."

Sara warily asks "Did he say anything else?" Catherine deciding to come clean answers "He wanted to see you, but I wouldn't let him in. I told him you and Lindsey needed to stay isolated from outsiders until you got over the initial phase of the illness."

Sara remains quiet for several minutes making Catherine nervous about her reaction to the news. Instead, Sara smiles and says "Thanks, Catherine. I really didn't want to see him. I told him awhile back that if he ever came to his senses about me it would be too late. Well, it's been too late for quite some time. I don't know what in the hell I was thinking wanting to get involved with him." Pausing, she looks down at a sleeping Lindsey and adds "Please don't tell Lindsey I said the 'h' word."

Catherine smiles and responds "I won't tell her. You only have to pay up if she hears you cursing; otherwise, I would have enough to pay for her entire college education." The two sit in comfortable silence before Catherine adds "I'm glad you're over Grissom, Sara. He is not good enough for you. You deserve someone who will love and cherish you."

Sara laughingly asks "Have anyone in mind?" Catherine mentally screams 'me', but she says aloud "You'll find someone someday. You just have to be patient. In the meantime, you can read your magazines."

Sara replies "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'd rather watch this movie again than read anything having to do with work." Catherine laughs and says "I can't believe you said that. You live for your work." Sara answers in a serious tone "It's my life. I don't have any kind of social life, so I bury myself in my work. It's the only thing I get satisfaction out of except for the times I take Lindsey on our outings."

Catherine can't believe her luck. Sara is actually talking about her life outside of work. Not wanting to pass up a chance to find out more, Catherine says "C'mon, Sara. Surely, you and your friends go out and have a good time on occasion." Sara pauses before responding "No, I don't go out at all. I don't have any friends here in Vegas. I have a few friends in San Francisco, but I hardly ever get to talk to them anymore. I miss having someone to hang with."

Continuing, Sara adds "Greg comes by sometimes and bugs the hell, oops, I mean heck out of me. I usually end up kicking him out of the apartment after 30 minutes. Occasionally he'll talk me into going to get something to eat. It's just not the same as being with my girlfriends. I miss having another female to bond with."

Catherine is just able to keep from replying 'I'd love to bond with you.' Not wanting this opportunity to slip away, Catherine instead answers "Maybe when you're feeling better, we can go out sometime."

Part 8

Lily comes into the room before Sara can answer Catherine's question. "Hey, you two, I was thinking about making a light pasta salad. Would you like to try something a little more substantial than soup and crackers, Sara?" Sara's stomach growls on cue causing Catherine to laugh aloud. Sara turns red and replies "That would be wonderful, Lily. I'd like to try to build up my strength."

Lily replies "Great. I'll fix Lindsey some vermicelli. I don't think she'd eat the salad." On the way out of the room she looks directly at Sara and adds "Oh, Catherine. Why did you put those two boxes of oatmeal on the kitchen table? I thought the oatmeal bath was out."

Sara grimaces as Lily's laughter is heard all the way down the hall. Catherine, not understanding the problem, asks "Sara, what is wrong with trying an oatmeal bath? The oats are ground to a fine powder before sprinkling it into the water. It is supposed to provide instant relief for itchy skin."

Sara asks "Catherine, do you remember the floater case we had awhile back? You know the one with the college student where we had to scoop buckets of 'man juice' out of the tub for evidence." Catherine makes a face and nods. Sara continues "Well, your oatmeal bath makes me think about that case. I don't think I could get into the tub with the oatmeal, ground or not. The water would be yucky."

Catherine bursts out laughing. "Yucky? Is that your scientific description?" Sara seriously replies "Think about it, Catherine. The water would be roughly the same color and texture as the floater's bath was." Catherine stops laughing and responds "Yuck."

The four of them make it to Thursday without too many major problems. Sara owes the swear jar $15.00 and Lindsey seems to be on the mend. The two have played games for hours and watched 8 movies. Tomorrow will make day 5 of the isolation period.

Catherine has made an appointment for Lindsey Friday afternoon. The doctor seems to think Lindsey will be able to return to school on Monday, but he wants to check her out to be sure. Lindsey is very excited while Sara remains stoic. Sara's case is progressing very slowly. She still has occasional bouts with fever and she has a perpetual case of tiredness.

After beating Sara two out of the last three games on the computer, Lindsey says "I'm going to miss being with you, Sara. I mean, I'm glad I'll be able to see my friends and all, but I don't want to leave you by yourself next week." Sara smiles and answers "Hey. You'll still see me. We'll still have our outings and maybe your mom can bring you by to see me sometime this weekend or early next week."

Confused, Lindsey answers "What do you mean? Aren't you going to stay here until you're better? You can't go home and be by yourself if you're still sick. You have to stay here and let mom and grandma take care of you."

Catherine stands outside the door listening to the conversation and waiting for Sara's answer. She doesn't have long to wait as she hears "Lindsey, I need to go home. Your mom is a very busy lady. She doesn't have time to take care of me. Besides, she'll need to get back to work soon." Catherine walks away dejected.

Lily looks up from her book to see an upset Catherine go into the kitchen. She marks her place and gets up to see about her daughter. When she walks into the kitchen, she finds Catherine looking out the window into the backyard. "Catherine, what's the matter? You seem upset." Catherine turns with tears in her eyes and replies "I am. Sara plans to leave this weekend. I knew she wouldn't stay if Lindsey got better. She thinks I don't have time for her. She thinks I don't want her around."

Lily moves to Catherine and embraces her. "Catherine, we've talked about this. Sara is not going to be able to take care of herself. Surely, she knows this. You need to make her understand that you want her to stay and you're willing to continue taking care of her."

Catherine lays her head on her mother's shoulder as she replies "She is so hard headed, mom. I don't think there is anything I can say to change her mind. I don't know what to do."

Lily pulls away and takes Catherine's hand leading her to the table. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. You are taking Lindsey to the doctor tomorrow afternoon and I'll be staying here with Sara. I will have a talk with her while you are gone. Maybe I can talk some sense into her."

Catherine agrees and the two begin to plan the evening meal. They deliver the meal to the patients and make small talk. Nothing is mentioned of Lindsey's appointment for the next day. The three have a pleasant conversation with Lindsey occasionally chiming in.

Lily walks to the master bedroom the minute Catherine leaves with Lindsey for the doctor's office. Sara appears to be sleeping, but Lily can now spot when Sara is playing possum. "Sara, do you mind visiting with me for a little while. I'd like to get to know you without everyone else around." Sara's eyes pop open as Lily adds "There's nothing to be nervous about. I just want to talk."

Sara shifts into a sitting position against the headboard. She doesn't say a word, but waits for Lily to initiate the conversation. After a few moments, Lily replies "You know you are still very weak and could relapse without proper care. Catherine's doctor friend thinks you should stay here until at least Monday." Sara shakes her head and says "I have already imposed on you and Catherine for too long as it is. I'll be fine at home. I'll make sure I get plenty of rest."

Lily moves to the side of the bed and sits down. She reaches for Sara's hand and grasps it with her own. "Sara, I'm going to tell you something that is none of my business. Catherine is upset that you are leaving. She is worried about you and she wants you to stay."

Sara is clearly stunned and does not reply. Lily realizing she has Sara's attention continues "What would it hurt to stay a couple of more days? I'll be here to help out, so it's not like you are burdening Catherine. You'll be so much stronger by Monday if you'll continue to let us care for you. What do you say?"

Sara remains silent for several minutes. Lily decides to wait her out so she stays quiet as well. After several more minutes, Sara replies "I appreciate everything you and Catherine have done for me. I would have never been able to care for myself, and I hate to admit it, but I am not feeling very strong at all. I will seriously consider your offer for me to stay."

Lily smiles and pats Sara's hand. "Good. I really think it would be in your best interest to stay here with us. Maybe tomorrow or Sunday, we can get you up to walk around a little." Sara returns the smile.

Lily hesitates for a short time before deciding to say "Sara, you've worked with Catherine for awhile now and you have been so good with Lindsey since Eddie's death. I can tell you care a great deal about Lindsey, but exactly what are your feelings toward Catherine?"

 

Part 9

Sara stutters "Catherine? Well, um, we're friends, I guess. We didn't get along at all when I first came to Vegas, but we worked really well together. When Eddie died, I felt so guilty for not being able to close the case. Catherine reamed me a … I mean, she was very upset with me and she brought Lindsey into the argument. I decided right then and there that I was going to try to help Lindsey in any way possible. I was surprised when Catherine agreed to let me take Lindsey places. Somewhere along the way, Catherine and I started being civil to each other. So I guess we're friends."

Lily studies Sara during her explanation, noticing her apparent nervousness. "Okay then. If you consider Catherine a friend, I hope you think of me as your friend also." Sara immediately replies "I do, Lily."

Lily pleased with Sara's answer says "Then why can't you let a couple of friends continue to take care of you? It's what friends do for each other." Sara realizes she's been skillfully backed into a corner and not wanting to fight with Lily replies "Okay, Lily. You win. I'll stay through the weekend, but if I am feeling better on Monday, I'm going home; deal?"

Lily puts out her hand toward Sara to seal the agreement. The two smile at each other as they shake hands. Lily offers to get Sara some juice and Sara agrees, not because she is thirsty, rather she needs some time alone to review the conversation. Lily, proud of her manipulation of Sara, leaves the room with a satisfied expression.

Sara lies back down and stares at the ceiling. 'What the hell just happened here? How could I have agreed to stay? When did I lose control of the conversation? Oh yeah, when she mentioned my feelings toward Catherine. I have to hand it to Lily, she's good. She is very good."

After her juice, Sara takes a nap until she is awakened by an excited Lindsey. "Sara, Dr. John said I'm not conta…conta…um, I can't give my friends the chicken pox anymore. Mom said I could go to Aunt Nancy's tomorrow for a few hours and play with Jeremy. And I can sleep in my own bed. Not that I don't like sleeping with you, but I miss my bed."

Sara can't help but smile at Lindsey's excitement. Hopefully, it won't be long until she is able to go back home and sleep in her own bed as well. Lindsey leaves to go to her room with the promise of coming back to play games with Sara later.

Catherine comes in a short time later to check on Sara. She repeats almost verbatim the news Lindsey shared except Catherine was able to pronounce contagious. The two discuss the doctor's visit in detail.

Catherine, remembering why she came into the room in the first place, asks "Sara, would you mind sitting in this chair while I change the sheets? I think you'll feel better on fresh sheets." Sara replies "I'd rather take a bath. I love being clean when I crawl into a newly changed bed."

Catherine responds "That's a good idea. Do you think you can fend for yourself in the bathtub while I wrestle with the sheets?" Sara softly answers "Yes, but I think I'm going to need you to help me into the bathroom and possibly the tub." Catherine pleased Sara has asked for help walks over to assist her.

After a quick bath, Sara lies back in the tub and closes her eyes. It took almost all of her strength to walk to the master bath and crawl into the tub. 'I can't believe how weak I am. This absolutely sucks. I wonder how long it will take for me to build my strength back up.' As she continues to downplay her health, she slowly drifts into sleep.

Catherine strips the bed and takes the sheets to the washer. She starts the washer and moves to the linen closet. Picking out a clean set of sheets, she returns to the bedroom and puts the sheets on the bed. Fluffing the pillows, she places the pillowcases on them. Pulling the comforter back up, she folds down the bed and goes to retrieve Sara.

As soon as she steps into the master bath, she hears a soft snore coming from the bathtub. She takes a few minutes to observe Sara and how relaxed she looks in sleep. Noticing the chill bumps popping up on Sara's arms, she decides to wake up the sleeping beauty. "Sara, honey, we need to get you out of the tub."

Dreaming of kissing Catherine, Sara smiles as her dream girl calls her honey. She is pulled from her dream when she realizes Catherine is calling her. 'Did she just call me honey? Nah, it must have been my dream talking.'

Sara opens her eyes and looks down at herself saying "I can't believe I fell asleep in the tub. I am never going to get over this tired feeling." Catherine replies "Yes, you will. Now let's get you standing and dried off." Catherine assists Sara from the tub and Sara reaches deep within to find the strength to dry herself off. Catherine helps her into boxers and a t-shirt and together the two return to the bedroom.

Sara crawls under the covers and allows her body to sink into the bed. "You're right, Catherine. The clean sheets feel wonderful." She closes her eyes and immediately falls into a deep sleep. Catherine watches her for awhile before leaving to check on Lindsey.

Catherine wakes Sara for her evening meal and leaves her alone to finish her dinner. 'It sure feels lonely in here without Lindsey. Maybe she'll keep me company later.'

Catherine returns after a short time to retrieve the tray. During her meal, Sara's thoughts had turned to the sleeping arrangements. "Catherine, if Lindsey returns to her bed, where are you going to sleep?" Catherine replies "On the couch." Sara, not happy with the response, says "You can't sleep on the couch. This is your house. I can sleep on the couch and you can have your bed back."

Catherine takes a few cleansing breaths before replying "Sara, you are still sick. You need to be in a comfortable bed and close to the facilities. Besides, you are too tall for my couch." Sara argues "No. I refuse to let you stay on the couch because of me. You sleep in the bed and we can make a pallet for me on the floor."

Aggravated, Catherine answers "Damn it, Sara. You are sleeping in this bed and that's final. I have slept on the couch numerous times and lived through it. Now, don't argue with me."

Sara opens her mouth to counter when Lily appears at the door. "What in the world are you two arguing about? You've upset Lindsey. She came to get me to see what is wrong." Catherine turns to her mother and responds "Sara is being an obstinate mule. She thinks she should sleep on the couch or the floor. I am pointing out the reasons why she needs to stay in the bed."

Lily looks to Sara who adds "Catherine should be sleeping in her own bed now that Lindsey has moved back to her room. I think I should be the one on the couch or the floor."

The two begin to bicker back and forth when Lily yells "Girls! Stop it. There really is a simple solution to this problem." Both Catherine and Sara turn their attention to Lily. Catherine is the first to ask "And what would that be, mother?"

With her hands on her hips, Lily shakes her head and replies "Catherine, your bed is huge. The obvious solution is for the two of you to share the bed."

 

Part 10

Speechless, Catherine and Sara both stare at Lily. She looks back and forth at the two before replying "What? Is there some reason why the two of you can't share the same bed? You are friends. Friends share things. Surely, this isn't a problem."

Catherine and Sara can only nod their heads. Lily finishes with "Okay, it's settled then. No couch and no floor for either of you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I missed my soaps today so I'm going to catch up on the SoapNet Channel. Call me if you need any more problems solved." Lily walks out the door. As she moves into the hall, she pumps her arm in celebration murmuring a silent "Yes!"

As Lily gets settled on the couch, the phone begins to ring. Reaching for the portable, she answers. "Hello . . . . Oh, hi Mr. Grissom . . . . The doctor said Sara needed to be isolated for several more days . . . . She's sleeping right now and I don't want to disturb her . . . . Yes, I'll tell her you called . . . . Bye."

Lily looks around to see if anyone overheard her conversation. Satisfied no one heard the call, she softly mutters "Sorry, Mr. Grissom. I don't think I'll be delivering your message anytime soon. I have to give my Catherine a chance with Sara without any interference from you."

Back in the room, Sara and Catherine are still stunned by Lily's clever manipulation of the situation. Sara looks to Catherine and says "You didn't stand a chance growing up did you?" Catherine responds "As a teenager, I was not aware of mother's skill. I always thought I was getting away with things when in reality mother was calling the shots the entire time. She's only gotten better as she has aged."

After a few moments, Catherine asks "What about your mother? Was she in charge as well?" Dead silence prevails for several minutes. Sara finally answers in a flat tone "In a manner of speaking, yes, you could say mother was in charge."

Catherine looks at Sara's guarded expression noting the firm jaw and clenched teeth. Deciding a change of subject is in order, she asks "So, what side of the bed do you prefer?" Sara, thankful for the question, answers "The middle." The two laugh and playfully argue about who gets to sleep on the side closest to the master bath.

Lindsey comes in with a movie and climbs into bed with Sara. She sits right next to Sara and instructs her mother to come sit on the other side. Catherine complies and the three sit in silence while the movie plays.

Lily comes in a bit later to say goodnight. Catherine looks at the time and jumps out of the bed. "Oh, I didn't realize how late it was. I'm sorry, mother. Why didn't you come and get me sooner?" Lily smiles and uses the excuse of being caught up in her soap operas. She doesn't bother to say she had already come into the room earlier to see the three of them wrapped up in the movie. Sara had her arm around Lindsey and Catherine was stroking Lindsey's hair. It made the perfect family portrait.

Lily leaves after promising to come back in the morning to take Lindsey to see Jeremy. After a bit of coaxing, Catherine is finally able to talk Lindsey into a bath before bed. Lindsey tries to explain that she's had more baths this week than she has had in a month. Catherine ignores the exaggeration and tells her she can't sleep in her own bed tonight unless she bathes. Lindsey grudgingly agrees.

After tucking Lindsey into bed for the night, Catherine makes her way to the master bedroom where she finds Sara sleeping soundly. Catherine notes she has conveniently chosen the side closest to the bath room. Catherine shakes her head and smiles as the changes into her gown.

As Catherine climbs into bed, she realizes how exhausted she is. She has pretty much gone full out all week with only a few breaks. Thankfully, Lily has been around to help. In only a few minutes, Catherine is out like a light.

Sara awakens the next morning feeling a bit hot. She begins to worry the fever has returned when she notices the body next to her, right next to her. In fact, Catherine is attached to her like a limpet. Catherine's head is nestled on her chest with her arm wrapped protectively around Sara's middle. Getting her bearings, Sara realizes Catherine's leg is lying on top of hers and is precariously close to settling in between her own legs. Sara's eyes pop wide open. Definitely not fever.

Sara tries to ease out from under Catherine, but Catherine only holds on more tightly. After several failed attempts, Sara decides to gently wake Catherine. She whispers very softly "Catherine. Catherine, you need to wake up." Catherine mumbles and burrows closer. The movement does not waken Catherine, but it succeeds in awakening several sensitive areas of Sara's anatomy.

Sara tries yet again to rouse Catherine. "Catherine, c'mon you need to wake up and move back to your side of the bed." Catherine lifts her head slightly and without ever opening her eyes, she leisurely kisses Sara on the lips and mutters "Go back to sleep. It's not time to get up."

Sara freezes in place. She reaches up and touches her lips not quite believing what just transpired. She looks down at Catherine to find her sound asleep. 'How can she kiss me like that and just go right back to sleep?'

After a few minutes, Catherine rolls back toward the other side of the bed and Sara quickly moves to the edge of her side. As Catherine begins to stretch, Sara closes her eyes and pretends to sleep. Catherine awakens on her side of the bed none the wiser to her earlier sleeping position. She looks over at a sleeping Sara and quietly gets out of bed.

When Catherine walks into the kitchen, she finds Lily sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee. She looks over at the wall clock to see 8:00 a.m. "Wow. I haven't slept this late on a non-working night in forever. I slept like a log. I feel great." Lily motions toward the coffee pot and Catherine pours herself a cup before sitting down at the table.

Catherine savors her first few sips before saying "Mom. I really appreciate all the help you've given me this week. I realized last night how difficult this week has been. I never could have made it through without you."

Lily replies "Nonsense, Catherine. You could have done it, but I am glad I was able to make it a little easier for you." Lily anxious to find out about how the sleeping arrangements fared says "I guess it felt good to sleep in your own bed."

Catherine responds "Oh yeah. Don't tell anyone, but I hate sleeping in Lindsey's twin bed. The first night I almost fell on the floor twice. I finally moved toward the wall to help get my bearings. I am used to having so much room to maneuver."

Lily smiles and asks "Did you have any problems sleeping with Sara?" Catherine answers "No. I thought it would be awkward, but I think both of us were too tired to think about anything but sleeping."

Lily adds "That's good. I had wondered about your tendency to snuggle. Ever since you were little, you would always latch onto anyone you slept with." Lily's words slowly sink into Catherine's head and she begins to replay what she can remember. 'I know I woke up on my side of the bed this morning. I remember rolling over shortly after I kissed Sara. I had my head on her shoulder and ….. wait a minute …. Oh my God, I kissed Sara!'

 

Part 11

Lily moves to Catherine's side as she notices how pale she has become. "Catherine, are you okay? You look as if you're about to faint." Catherine looks at her mother and stutters "Mom. Oh, mom." Lily worriedly asks "What, honey? What's wrong?"

Catherine leans over and puts her face in her hands. She repeats over and over again "I am so stupid." Lily kneels down and pulls Catherine's hands from her face. "Catherine, talk to me. Maybe I can help." Catherine looks up at her mother and says "I can't go back into my bedroom ever again as long as Sara is here. I'll take Lindsey and go to your apartment and you can stay here and take care of Sara."

Lily replies "Don't be silly, Catherine. You'll do no such thing. Now, tell me why you are suddenly so afraid to be around Sara." Catherine hangs her head and quietly says "I accidentally kissed her." Lily asks "How do you accidentally kiss someone?" Catherine's head snaps up as she answers "I don't know. I just did, okay!"

Lily puts her hands up in surrender and replies "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Tell me exactly what happened." Catherine begins to recount her memories to her mother. She becomes even more mortified when she realizes she practically slept on top of Sara. When she finishes her narrative, she asks "What am I going to do? How am I going to face Sara? She probably thinks I'm some sort of pervert."

Lily moves her chair over to sit next to Catherine. She says "You said you were half-asleep when you kissed Sara. Maybe she was in the same state and doesn't remember you kissing her." Catherine quickly replies "I think she would know if someone's tongue was in her mouth." Surprised, Lily asks "You slipped her the tongue?"

Frustrated, Catherine gets up and begins to pace. "I don't know, mother. I usually do…um…I mean I might have. Shit, shit, shit. I can't believe I kissed her. Stupid, stupid, stupid." Lily watches Catherine berate herself for a few moments before asking "How did Sara react to the kiss?"

Catherine, still very much unnerved, answers "How should I know? I never opened my eyes. I was practically asleep at the time." Lily ignores Catherine's tone and continues with her questions. "Then how do you know she was upset with your kiss?" Lily receives the full 'what planet are you from?' expression from Catherine.

Lily looks at the clock and notes forty five minutes have passed since they began their conversation. "Why don't I take Sara a cup of coffee? She hasn't had any all week so it should put her in a good mood. I'll talk to her for a few minutes and see if she says anything." Catherine, not able to think of anything else, agrees.

Lily enters the quiet room with the coffee and the newspaper. She places the coffee on the nightstand and moves to open the blinds. Sara opens her eyes as she smells the aroma of the coffee. She is relieved to see Lily and not Catherine. Lily walks back to the bed and takes a seat on the edge. She reaches for the coffee and hands it to Sara.

Sara sits up in the bed and takes the cup. She puts the cup under her nose and savors the aroma before taking her first sip. Smiling, she continues to sip her coffee. Lily silently observes Sara's demeanor for a few minutes.

After drinking half the cup, Sara says "Lily, you have made my week. I can't tell you how much I have been craving a cup of coffee. Catherine wouldn't let me have any." At the mention of Catherine's name, Lily pays close attention to Sara's tone and body language. There does not appear to be any sign of discomfort.

Lily smiles and asks "How did you sleep?" Sara instantly turns red before replying "Fine." Lily mentally works out her next question. 'Something has embarrassed her. Question is what? Was it Catherine's snuggling or the kiss? It's not going to be easy to get her to open up.'

The two sit in silence for a few moments before Lily says "I bet you missed Lindsey. Catherine takes up much more room than the little tyke and Catherine tends to hog the bed." Sara begins to choke on her coffee. Lily quickly grabs the cup before any can spill on the bed. She places the cup back on the night stand and reaches over to pat Sara on the back.

Lily instructs Sara to raise her arms over her head and Sara complies. After several minutes, Sara finally stops coughing and is able to breathe easier. The ordeal has taken its toll on Sara as she sinks back down on the bed. Lily mentally kicks herself for not anticipating Sara's reaction to her question.

Lily brushes the hair from Sara's face and asks "Are you okay? I'm sorry if I said anything to upset you." Sara closes her eyes and relishes Lily's caring touch. She has never known the kindness of someone like Lily or Catherine.

Knowing she needs to respond in some way, Sara says "I'm okay. The coffee just went down wrong. Sorry." Lily answers "It wasn't your fault. I'm the one who should apologize. I did come in here to bring your coffee, but I also had an ulterior motive."

Sara opens her eyes and looks at Lily. She asks "What did you want to find out?" Lily smiles and says "Maybe we should talk about this when you're feeling a little better." Sara thinks for a minute and decides she would rather find out now than worry about it when the time comes. "I'm okay and I'd rather talk about it now."

Still concerned, Lily opts for the slow, questioning approach. "Sara, do you remember anything that happened during the night or this morning?" Confused, Sara asks "What do you mean? Something outside or in the house or something with me?" Lily smiles and answers "With you and Catherine."

Sara closes her eyes and stalls for a few moments. She finally asks "What did Catherine say?" With a calm and loving voice, Lily responds "I'd rather hear your version, but first, I want you to know Catherine is very upset with herself."

Sara sighs and begins to recount her view. "I slept all night without dreaming which is a first. When I woke up, I was rested but felt warm. I thought the fever had returned, but I quickly realized Catherine was the source of the heat. She was draped practically on top of me. I tried to slide out from under her, but she wouldn't let go. I finally called her name several times and she started to rouse. The next thing I know, she is kissing me and then she lies back down on top of me."

Lily opens her mouth to ask how Sara felt about the kiss but is stopped by Sara's voice. "Did she know it was me? Why would Catherine kiss me, Lily?"

 

Part 12

Lily smiles down at Sara and replies "I can't answer that question. You'll have to ask Catherine. She will never initiate the conversation, but the two of you need to discuss your feelings. Promise me you will talk to Catherine when I take Lindsey to Nancy's.

Sara shakes her head and opens her mouth to refuse, but Lily places her fingers on Sara's lips and says "You can't say no. Someone has to be the adult. You two can't avoid seeing or talking to each other for the rest of your lives. For goodness sakes, you two have to work together. It's going to be up to you, Sara. Do the right thing."

Lily pats Sara's cheek and leaves the room. Sara stares up at the ceiling wondering how far away she could get on her hands and knees since she still wobbles when she walks. Sara smiles as the image sparks a memory 'Weebles wooble, but they don't fall down.'

Lily comes in thirty minutes later with some toast and juice for Sara. Nothing is mentioned of 'the talk.' Instead the two discuss how excited Lindsey is to get out of the house. Sara finishes her meal and hands Lily her tray. Lily says "Don't forget, Sara. It's up to you." She turns and walks out the door.

About an hour later, Sara faces her first dilemma. She has to go to the bathroom and Catherine has not come in to check on her all morning. 'Okay, Sidle, decision time. Should I call Catherine or try to make it on my own? It is obvious Catherine doesn't want to talk to me, but she clearly was not happy the last time I tried to venture out of bed on my own. However, I am much better than I was before. I think I should give it a go.'

Sara sits up and moves to the edge of the bed. She swings her feet around and places them on the floor. Very slowly, she stands up using the night stand to assist her. Sara stands for a few minutes to make sure there isn't any dizziness. Satisfied with the result thus far, she gingerly takes a few steps. Soon she successfully arrives at the toilet.

Completing her business, she stands to return to bed. Noticing the revolution of the objects in the room, she sits back down. 'Damn it. I am tired of this dizzy feeling. You would think I would be able to walk to the toilet and back. I guess I'll sit her for a minute and try again.'

After several minutes and two unsuccessful attempts, Sara decides she will indeed find out how far she can crawl. Reaching down, she is barely able to lower herself on the floor without falling on her head. She slowly begins to crawl and is able to cover about four feet before she has to stop to rest. 'This sucks. An infant could outdistance me.'

Sara finally makes it out of the bathroom door and onto the carpet at the exact same time Catherine peeks around the corner to check on Sara hopefully without being seen. Catherine looks at the bed to find it empty. Alarmed, she rushes into the room to find Sara on her hands and knees looking at her. Catherine hurries to her just as Sara's arms give out and she falls.

"Sara, what in the hell are you doing out of bed?" Sara looks up at Catherine and weakly says "Lindsey must be gone or else you would owe a dollar." Catherine reaches down to help Sara into a sitting position before answering. "Let's get you off this floor and back into the bed." Sara does everything in her power to assist in the process.

They finally get Sara upright and slowly move to the bed. Sara plops back into the bed and says "I hate this. I fucking hate this!" Catherine pulls the covers over Sara and replies "Good thing Lindsey's gone. I think you may have been charged extra for that one." Sara glares at Catherine but refuses to respond.

The two stare at each other for a few minutes before Catherine says "Next time you need to get up, call me. If you fall, you could hurt yourself." Grinning, she adds "Good thing you were already so close to the ground." Sara, not amused, replies "I figured since you have avoided me all morning; you didn't want have any contact with me. Besides, I should be able to get up to go to the bathroom on my own."

The grin falls from Catherine's face at the mention of her avoidance of Sara. Looking everywhere but at Sara, she replies "I'm sorry I haven't checked on you this morning. I had to get Lindsey ready to go to Jeremy's and then I cooked some spaghetti sauce for lunch. I left out the meat because I know you're a vegetarian. I wasn't sure what else you would eat so ……" Catherine is cut off midway into her babble by Sara's very insistent voice. "Catherine, look at me."

Catherine gradually makes eye contact with Sara who says "Please come over here and sit down." Catherine slowly makes her way to the bed and sits on the edge. Sara takes a deep breath and asks "Did you mean to kiss me this morning?" Catherine immediately responds "No! I mean yes. I mean . . . I don't know what I mean. I do know I'm sorry and I won't ever let it happen again."

Not pleased with the answer, Sara continues "I accept your apology, but I would like an answer to my original question." Catherine gets up and stands in front of the window. She looks outside for a few moments while she gathers her thoughts.

"Sara, I am so thankful to you for getting Lindsey out of her funk when her dad died. She wouldn't talk to me and she was always moping around. You brought sunshine back into her life." She pauses before continuing "I have enjoyed getting to know you through Lindsey's eyes. Somewhere along the way, we began to be friendlier toward each other and I really like the person I came to know."

Sara waits patiently for Catherine to continue. After several minutes, the silence in the room becomes deafening. Sara deciding to prod Catherine along replies "I'm glad I could help Lindsey out, Catherine. And I'm glad we have become friends. I care about you too."

Without turning around, Catherine wraps her arms around herself and looks to the floor. "Sara, I am attracted to you. I've been able to keep it under wraps for months now, but I guess my subconscious overruled by brain this morning. Add in the dream I was having when I started to awaken and, voila! , I kissed you."

Expecting Sara to be disgusted and outraged, Catherine quietly awaits her response. Sara, on the other hand, sits up against the headboard stunned.

Sara finally finds her voice and asks "Catherine, are you serious? You are attracted to me?" Catherine detecting a sense of hope in Sara's voice turns around and walks back to the bed. She sits on the side and reaches out for Sara's hand. Catherine smiles as Sara willingly gives it to her.

"Sara, I think I've always been attracted to you. I believe that's part of the reason I was so horrible to you in the beginning. You had come in to evaluate Warrick and I didn't want to like you. I had to go to extremes to stop myself from acting on my attraction. As we worked together through the years, you gained my respect and admiration for the job you do. When you befriended Lindsey, all those early attractions came back full force."

Confused, Sara replies "I don't understand. You aren't gay, Catherine. You dated all those men. Am I a test subject to see what it would be like to date a woman?" Sparks fly from Catherine's eyes as she vehemently replies "Is that what you think of me? That I could toy with your emotions for an experiment? Well, fuck you, Sara." Catherine tries to pull her hand away, but Sara hangs on with as much strength as she can muster in her weakened state.

 

Part 13

As Catherine finally pulls free and walks toward the door, Sara cries out "No, Catherine. I don't think that of you. Please don't go. I'm attracted to you too. Please don't leave." Sara begins to sob uncontrollably muttering 'don't leave me' over and over. Catherine turns back and her heart breaks at the sight. She moves back toward the bed as Sara starts to hyperventilate.

Catherine takes Sara's face in her hands to make eye contact. She gently says "Sara, it's okay. You need to relax and take deep breaths. Can you do that for me? C'mon now, look at me. That's it. Now breathe." Catherine continues her mantra until an exhausted Sara finally begins to breathe normally.

Catherine helps Sara into a lying position and softly strokes her hair. Within minutes, Sara is asleep. Catherine looks down at Sara and whispers "Someone hurt you very badly didn't they? If I ever meet them face to face, I'm going to kick their ass. Now, sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."

An hour later, Sara opens and closes her eyes several times to clear her vision. Feeling someone playing with her hair, she looks to her left to find Catherine sitting next to her looking out the window. Sara opens her mouth to speak but only a squeak comes out. Catherine's focus moves to Sara. "Hey, sleepyhead. You scared me for a few minutes there. How are you feeling?"

With a raspy voice, Sara answers "Better except my throat is killing me." Catherine says "Let me go get you some water. I'll be right back." She leans down and kisses the top of Sara's head before getting up to leave. Sara smiles as she watches her go, but as she remembers the previous conversation, she takes on a worried expression.

Catherine returns with a glass of water and a straw. She holds the glass and bends the straw for Sara to drink. After half a glass, Sara says "Thank you, Catherine. I'm sorry I lost control. I don't know what came over me." Catherine replies "I'm sorry, too. I never should have spoken to you like that. You just hit a nerve."

Catherine takes the glass and places it on the nightstand. She takes off her shoes and crawls into the bed facing Sara. The two spend hours talking about their past relationships and fears of new ones. Sara confirms Catherine's suspicions of being hurt. In San Francisco, she became involved with one of the lab techs and fell in love. Three months later, the tech left her for a male supervisor. She told Sara that she never loved her and she was just an experiment. Catherine holds Sara close and tells her she will never make false promises.

Catherine entertains Sara with stories of growing up with Lily and then asks about Sara's childhood. Sara talks of her few pleasant memories, but asks Catherine if they could discuss it later. Catherine picking up on Sara's discomfort agrees. She takes Sara's hand once again and says "Now, let's start over. I am attracted to you, Sara. How do you feel about that?"

Sara smiles and responds "I'm attracted to you too, Catherine. Do you think we can try kissing again now that we're both wide awake?" Catherine grins, leans forward, and softly kisses Sara. As Catherine pulls back, Sara says "That was nice."

Catherine answers "Yes, it was. You don't know how long I have been dreaming of kissing you, but I want to take things slow. I want a relationship built on honesty, trust, friendship, and love. I have always jumped right into bed at the beginning of a relationship and it never worked out. I want us to work."

Lily comes into the room and is both surprised and pleased to find the two in bed together holding hands. Smiling, she says "It's about time. I was worried that neither one of you would open up. I am so happy for you two." Pausing, Lily asks "Have the two of you had anything to eat since this morning?" When Sara and Catherine shake their head no, Lily grins and says "I'll go order some pizzas to celebrate Lindsey's recovery and you two finally coming to your senses. I'll let Lindsey know."

A few minutes later, Lindsey runs in yelling "Yes! Grandma said we're going to have pizza to celebrate. Um, what are we celebrating?" Catherine replies "You getting all better, sweetie, and …." Catherine looks at Sara who nervously asks "Lindsey, how would you feel if I dated your mom?" Lindsey grins broadly and asks "For real?" Sara nods as Lindsey says "Cool!"

Lindsey and Lily bring the pizza and drinks into the bedroom so they can all eat together. Sara looks over at Lily and smiles. She is so grateful to Lily for everything. Lily is exactly what Sara has always wished for in a mother. She is kind, loving, caring and she even ordered a vegetarian pizza. The four enjoy the good food and pleasant conversation.

Lily asks Catherine to help her with the dishes while Lindsey stays behind to play video games with Sara. As the pair makes their way into the kitchen, Lily asks "Well?" Catherine responds "Yes, mother you were right as usual and I thank you for pushing and prodding us both. I'm really going to go for it all with Sara. I think we can make each other very happy." Deciding not to say the infamous 'I told you so,' Lily smiles, quite pleased with herself.

After refrigerating the unfinished pizza and rinsing off the dishes, Lily asks if Catherine needs anything else before she leaves to go back home. Catherine says "Not that I can think of, but I'll call you if I think of something. Thanks again for everything, mother. And I do mean everything." Lily replies "You're so welcome, honey. I'm going to head home now. I'll see you in the morning." As Catherine turns to leave the kitchen, Lily adds "Oh, by the way, when Sara gets to feeling better I'll bring Lindsey over to my place for a sleepover so you and Sara can have some privacy to perform the horizontal mambo." Catherine walks right into the door facing.

Epilogue (of sorts)

Sara recovers and the two begin the dating process including weekend outings with Lindsey. Back at work, only Warrick has figured out what is going on between the two. He is happy for them, but stays mum on the subject to the others. Lily is very happy with the coupling and has 'adopted' Sara as her daughter. Weeks later, she gets a phone call from Catherine requesting her baby sitting services while she and Sara engage in dancing lessons.

***

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