DISCLAIMER: I don't own CSI, "867-5309," Tom Petty, Outkast, or the song "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
SEQUEL: To Home.
In The Arms of the Angel
By Crystal
Catherine stretched languidly as she walked into her house, the smell of something very good reaching her nostrils as she set her purse by the door. Quietly, she made her way through the newly redecorated living room towards the kitchen. Catherine couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her when she finally made it to the kitchen.
Sara, clad in a pair of low-rise blue jeans and a purple t-shirt, was at the counter chopping up vegetables. That wasn't so unusual for Catherine to find in her kitchen since Sara had moved in three weeks previous. The funny part wasn't so unusual either, but Catherine couldn't help but laugh as Sara danced along with the song "867-5309" coming out of the stereo on the counter. Sara didn't seem to notice Catherine laughing at her until the older woman walked up behind and wrapped her arms around Sara's waist, causing her to jump. Catherine placed a gentle kiss on Sara's neck. "So," she purred, "who is this Jenny and why are you so happy to have her number?"
Sara turned around in Catherine's embrace and placed her hands on Catherine's hips before kissing her on the lips. "Her?" she started innocently. "Oh, don't worry, she's just my thing on the side," she answered, then turned around to continue chopping. The song had changed by this time, Tom Petty coming next on the radio station that made it known that they played whatever they wanted whenever they wanted, which usually meant that they would play an older rock song followed by contemporary pop or something like that.
Catherine nodded, keeping an arm around Sara as she moved to stand next to her. "Uh huh," she said, watching Sara deftly cut through a cucumber. "Where's Lindsey?" she asked, her hand traveling dangerously south of the border.
Sara cast a glance over to Catherine. "At your sister's. It is my night off. You're home early, you know."
Catherine smiled. "Actually, I left when my shift was over, so technically I'm home on time. You, on the other hand, are still here on your scheduled night off. What, Grissom hasn't called yet or he wouldn't let you come in?"
Sara shook her head. "Uh uh. This is my night off and I plan to take full advantage of it, come hell, high water, or Grissom…"
Catherine gave her a kiss. "Gonna clean the house?" she asked jokingly.
Sara grinned broadly, revealing the gap in between her two front teeth that Catherine found adorable. "I already did, thank you very much. And I'm already cooking dinner, vegetable stir-fry, the child is taken care of, and the house is already cleaned."
Catherine chuckled. "I have to say that this domestic side of you is very amusing. What's next, Sidle? Meatloaf?" she teasingly asked, and the song on the radio moved to Outkast.
Sara wrinkled her nose, obviously disgusted. "First off: no meat. Second: I don't know how to cook meatloaf."
Catherine put a hand over her heart on mock horror. "Sara Sidle is admitting that she doesn't know how to do something? Oh my God. Call the papers. I have the front page story," she ducked when Sara swatted a hand at her. "Okay, so no meatloaf. Now, how was it that, growing up cooking in the kitchen of a B & B, that you learned how to cook all manner of foods with long foreign names, but never meatloaf?" she asked, curious.
"Stir-fry is not a long foreign name," she answered before shrugging. "Meatloaf just wasn't on the menu. My mother said it was too domestic and she would not have her daughter slaving over a stove making something like meatloaf for some ungrateful man," Sara answered, moving away from Catherine to pour oil in a skillet on the stove.
Catherine stopped Sara with a hand on her arm and a pained expression on her face. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
Sara shook her head. "No, Cat. I'm at peace with my demons, and I'm actually glad that they don't include meatloaf," she fought off any guilt that Catherine had with a smile.
Catherine released her and was content to watch Sara put vegetables in the skillet for a while, until a familiar song started playing. As familiar piano chords flooded the kitchen, Catherine pulled Sara flush with her. "Dance with me," she whispered.
Catherine wrapped her arms around Sara's upper back and Sara put her arms around Catherine's waist. Catherine's head fit perfectly into the crook of Sara's neck and Sara's cheek rested against Catherine's soft hair.
Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it ok
There's always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
Oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty and weightless
And maybe I'll find some peace tonight
Softy, they swayed back and forth content to just rest in each other's embrace.
In the arms of the angel
Far away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
Catherine couldn't resist being so close to Sara's long neck and began kissing gently as Sara moved her hands up and down the other woman's back, their food long forgotten.
So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference
Escaping one last time
It's easier to believe in this sweet madness
Oh this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees
Before things moved further, Sara stopped them and turned the stove off before she let Catherine lead her to their bedroom. She felt Catherine's warm breath on her neck and shivered. Even upstairs, Sara could still hear the gentle strains of music reaching her.
In the arms of the angel
Far away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
Their love that night was gentle and passionate and filled with more emotion than either had felt before. It was perfect in every way and uniquely Catherine and Sara.
In Catherine's arms, Sara couldn't help but think that if you had asked her where she would be three months after Catherine appeared at her door early one morning, she would not have told you with Catherine. Catherine was already asleep, but still she tightened her hold on her brown-haired lover.
Even though the music had long since stopped, as Sara fell asleep, she would've swore that she still heard it.
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
The End