7Hopes and Dreams
by: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmaters
Ch. 5: Trust and Gut
Catherine placed a hand on Sara's knee, keeping it there until they arrived. "He doesn't look pleased..."
Sara nodded. "No, he doesn't..."
Catherine quickly got out of the car, grabbing her kit. "Where do you need us?"
"Nick and Warwick are inside. You two can do the perimeter."
Sara nodded, grabbing her kit, following Catherine.
"Sara..." Gil said, grabbing her arm.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Keep Cath outside. The last thing I need is anyone saying evidence has been tampered."
"Why? What's going on? Why do you think she would do that? What? You don't trust us to do our jobs?" Sara retaliated, pulling away.
"I trust you, Sara."
"What about her? What has she done not to deserve it?"
"She knows."
Sara sighed. "Fine," she said, following her.
"What did he keep you back for?" Catherine asked, searching the garden bed with her torch.
"Oh, he just said he wants us to specifically focus on the outside, not the inside."
"Why? I would have thought it if was a triple, they would want my opinion on spatter."
"Well, apparently not."
"I'm going to talk to him."
"Cath... something about not trusting you and you know why," Sara said.
"But I haven't done anything!"
"That's all he told me. Be careful."
Catherine glared at her before wandering over to Gil. "Why are you keeping me outside?"
Sara walked a little ways away, facing Catherine as she searched for evidence.
"Gil, if you don't trust me to do my job then I am done," she warned.
"I know what you did, Cath."
"Then, would you care to explain it to me?"
"Remember when how you found out Sam Braun was your father? When you got Nick to do that DNA test off the books?"
"Why?"
"You promised me in your appraisal I could trust you not to do that sort of thing again. So why ask Doc Robbins to run blood tests off the books?"
She sighed. "For God's sake! It was MY blood! I-I asked him to do it because, a few months ago, I took a couple pregnancy tests and they were negative, but then, I felt something move! There! Happy to know every detail?!" she seethed.
Gil gave his usual lost for words expression as he stared at Catherine.
Catherine sighed. "I'm sorry for the outburst. Can I get back to work now?"
"Yes. Of course."
Catherine nodded, going back over.
Sara looked up from collecting a scrap of burnt plastic. "You ok?"
"He's just causing problems when he could have just asked me outright," Catherine replied, bending down to pick up some matches.
Sara nodded.
"Can you smell that?"
"Yes...smells rotten, mixed with...chemicals..."
Catherine stood, going in search of the smell. "I've got some fuel."
Sara followed. "Ok, but then, where's the rotten... Wait, wait. There's fuel, you said you found matches and I can smell chemicals... if there's any spark..."
Catherine nodded, staying still. "I don't know whether to move or not."
Sara took a slow step closer, grabbing her wrist. "Look around. Is there anything active?"
"Power line has been cut. Run, Sara."
Sara nodded, pulling her along as she ran. "I'm not leaving you."
Catherine quickly radioed for the area to be cleared as Nick and Warwick ran from the house. A spark flew from the power line, igniting the area as they ran.
Sara ran close to a block, making sure there was no line to follow them. She turned, sighing. "Well, there goes our scene, except what we barely collected."
Catherine rested her hands on her hips trying to catch her breath. "I don't think baby and I are cut out for this running thing."
Sara nodded. "True, but it was necessary."
"I know. Shall we head back?"
Sara nodded. "Well, at least, it's nice out," she said as they walked back to their, now incinerated, crime scene. "I'm going to guess that we'll have a lot to piece together now."
Catherine nodded. "It's going to be a long night."
"Exactly."
Catherine settled herself in her lab once they'd returned, printing the match box and processing few other items of evidence, stopping every now and then to touch her stomach when the baby moved.
Catherine kissed Sara's cheek. "Thanks. Someone won't stop wriggling."
Sara kissed her cheek, resting a hand on her stomach, hearing a few beeps. "Be right back," she said as she grabbed the printouts. "Ok...plastic is from a toy manufacturer, like kids toys. The fibers in the grass, green polyester cotton blend."
"Green polyester cotton. Can't be much of that around."
"Arsonist? Who else would trail fuel like that?" Sara asked.
Catherine nodded. "More than likely."
Sara sighed. "I didn't get much. What about you?"
"I've got a clear print on the matchbox."
"Run it yet?"
"I was just about to when this one wriggled."
Sara smiled. "Aww!"
Catherine smiled, handing Sara the print to run.
Sara put it on the scanner, sitting in a chair and running it.
It took a few minutes before it finally gave a beep to indicate a match.
"Hmm. Byron McCave, 33, arrest record shows...wow. You've got to see this."
Catherine moved over to the computer. "Previous for arson."
"And everything from B & E, to rape. How the hell is he still not locked up?"
"That is a very good question."
"Doesn't list a home address, but he does have a probation officer," Sara said.
"Let's talk to him, then we'll update Grissom."
Sara nodded. "Let's go."
They had to wait a while to speak to the probation officer and when they stepped outside, Catherine felt a twinge, causing her to stop for a second.
Sara stopped beside her. "What is it?"
"Twinge. I'll be ok in a second."
"Are you ok?"
Catherine nodded. "I think I just got kicked in the bladder."
Sara nodded. "I'm sure if you asked you could probably use the bathroom."
Catherine smiled, going to ask the receptionist who showed her through. She returned to Sara five minutes later. "Ready to go?"
"Yes."
Catherine led Sara out to the car and once they were inside, she leant over to kiss her wife gently. "I love you."
"I love you too."
When their shift was finally over, Catherine smiled at Sara. "I made an appointment last night. They said we can come in for ten."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah. I just want to make sure we're both ok."
Sara smiled. "I need sleep."
"Me too. I'm exhausted."
She nodded, laying back against the seat.
Catherine smiled, starting the car before driving them home. As they made it inside, Catherine helped Sara change then got herself ready for bed, slipping in beside her wife ten minutes later.
Sara sighed. "I'm glad your mom has the kids. I wouldn't like being woken early tomorrow from how tired I am."
"Me too," Catherine replied, pulling the brunette close, stroking her arm.
"How do you think they'll react?"
"I don't know. What do you think?"
"Well, Lindsay will be happy..."
"I still can't believe it."
Sara smiled. "I know."
"You sure you're happy?"
"Absolutely," she said, hugging her close.
Catherine smiled, kissing Sara's forehead. "Sleep now. We can talk when we wake."
She nodded, falling asleep quickly.
Catherine was seconds behind her, holding Sara tightly.
Sara smiled in her sleep, cuddling into her.
Catherine woke slowly several hours later, smiling when she saw Sara's hand on her stomach.
Sara smiled, sensing she was awake as she looked at her. "Hi."
"Hi," Catherine smiled, placing her hand over Sara's. "How long have you been awake?"
"A little while. Are you ok?"
"Yes. Sleep ok?"
"Yes. I love you so much."
"I love you so much too," Catherine smiled, capturing the younger woman's lips.
Sara kissed back, rubbing her stomach.
Catherine gave a soft moan, pulling away slowly with a smile. "I should probably make an appointment."
"Thought you did. It was for ten the next day."
"Sorry, baby brain," she replied, "What would I do without you?"
Sara smiled. "Don't know."
"How long until we have the girls back?"
"I have no idea. Why?"
"I thought we could go out for food. We haven't done that for an age."
"That's a great idea," Sara said.
"Where would you like to go?"
"Hmm..."
"Well, hello," Catherine said as there was a sharp movement under Sara's hand.
Sara grinned, hugging her stomach. "Hi baby..."
Catherine watched her with a wide smile. "Someone missed their Mama."
Sara kissed her stomach. "I missed you too."
The baby gave another kick. "I might see if I can bring that scan forward. I don't think I can wait much longer."
"Why don't you call and ask and I'll get in the shower?"
"Ok," Catherine smiled, kissing Sara gently, "I love you."
"I love you two too," she said, going into their bathroom and stepping in before turning on the water.
Catherine made a quick call, smiling when they told her they'd had a cancellation before removing her clothes, wrapping her arms around Sara as she stepped in behind her.
Sara smiled. "Hi baby."
"Which one?" Catherine smirked, dropping a soft kiss to Sara's neck.
"You," Sara moaned softly.
"They have a cancellation in two hours. We could get ready, go for the scan then food?"
Sara turned around. "Sounds great..." she said, kissing her fully.
Catherine moaned, kissing harder, hands tangling in Sara's hair.
Sara moaned, pulling her close.
Catherine pressed Sara to the wall, her free hand running up the brunette's thigh lightly.
"Cath..."
"Yes?" she whispered, giving Sara's clit a long hard stroke.
"Ohhh..."
Slowly the redhead slipped three fingers inside her, nipping Sara's neck.
Sara moaned softly. "I-I'd rather hear you."
"Then do something about it..." Catherine managed, voice husky, pulling away a little.
Sara smirked, switching their positions and kissing her neck.
"Oh Sara," Catherine moaned, melting into her embrace.
Sara wrapped around her, not even caring about what Catherine had planned, only wanting the physical closeness. "I love you. I wouldn't mind staying like this for an hour..."
"Fine by me," Catherine said softly, holding her close.
Sara nodded, gently pressing her against the wall.
In truth, Catherine had missed the opportunity to be this close to Sara, especially recently. She closed her eyes, relaxing against her.
Sara gently kissed her neck.
"Mmm..."
Sara smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too. We need to do this more often."
"Yes we do. I've missed it."
"So have I. Do you think we'll cope ok with three?"
"It'll be a lot at first, but...yeah."
Catherine gave a content sigh, eyes still closed as she gave a wide smile.
Sara smiled. "Should we get out?"
"Hmm? Sorry miles away."
"Should we get out?"
"As long as we can continue this cuddle after we do."
Sara nodded, shutting the water off and grabbing two towels, handing one to Catherine.
Catherine smiled, wrapping the towel around herself, kissing Sara's cheek.
Sara smiled, wrapping a towel around herself.
"I..." Catherine managed before chickening out.
"What? We tell each other everything."
"I just... keep wanting to say he," the older woman confessed, touching her stomach gently.
"It could be a he," Sara said.
"I know. I just never really considered having a boy before. Especially when we found out we were having another girl last time."
"You...wouldn't be happy?"
"As long as this baby is healthy, I'd be happy either way."
Sara smiled, walking into the bedroom, drying off and laying in bed.
Catherine quickly dried herself, then moved to lay next to Sara, rolling on her side. "We love you."
Sara rested a hand on Catherine's stomach. "I love you too."
Catherine pulled Sara close, holding her tightly.
Sara kissed her sweetly.
Catherine returned the kiss, covering them over.
Sara smiled.
"I could lay like this forever."
"Yeah, me too. But I think we need to get ready."
Catherine just tightened her embrace, shaking her head.
Sara smiled. "You really think it's a boy?"
Catherine nodded. "I don't really know why."
"We probably shouldn't lay here too long. We could forget."
Catherine sighed. "I suppose. We do have a tendency to forget what we're supposed to be doing, even like this."
"Yeah. You're appointment is in an hour. We shouldn't be distracted."
"Ok, you win," Catherine smiled, slowly getting up.
Sara stood, pulling on some jeans and a blue shirt. "I still can't believe Grissom went after you like that."
"Let him get his own way," Catherine shrugged, "In a few months, I'll be on maternity leave."
"Yeah, true, but you did have a legitimate reason for asking off the books."
"Do you think the baby is ok?"
Sara smiled. "Yes. You're healthy."
Catherine smiled, taking Sara's hand after she dressed. "Will you drive?"
Sara smiled again. "Sure."
"God, I'm so nervous. You think Mom will keep the kids a while?"
"I already asked," she said, taking her hand.
Reviews: katvrah
