"Catherine what the hell is this?"

"An application for 10 months of personal leave and one for about a month more of personal if I need it," Catherine sits on Gils desk and he looks up at her from the papers in his hands," You want me to sign this?"

"Mmhm"

"Why?"

"I need to take the time off," she looks at her hands," Are you staying in Vegas?"

"No I'm going back to my hometown in Montana.....I should be back in September"

"Linds?"

"She's coming with me and then finishing the school year at a boarding school for the arts in California"

"Boarding school?"

"Yeah she really wants to go"

"Promise you'll call me?"

"Yeah definately," he signs the papers for the larger amount leave and puts them in her folder," I'll keep the other one's open incase you don't want or don't need it"

"Okay that works," she gets down and kisses him softly," I'm gonna miss you Gil but don't come lookin' for me"

"Okay"

"Love you"

"Love you too," she leaves and Gil leans back in his chair looking at the papers he just signed.

*********************************************************

"Do you have everything?"

"Yep," Catherine and Lindsey get in the taxi," You know why we're doing this right?"

"Yeah," Lindsey smiles at her," Where to maam?"

"McCarran"

"United?"

"Yeah," the drive is quiet and when they get there Catherine grabs a luggage trolley. The driver puts their bags on it," Thanks how much do I owe you?"

"$43.60"

"Here," she pulls a 50 out of her billfold and hands it to him," Thanks," they go into the airport and check all of their bags except their 2 carry ons. They walk to their gate and Catherine looks at her watch," You wanna get something to eat?"

"Can we get McDonalds?"

"Sure," they walk to the McDonalds a few steps away and wait in line for about 5 minutes before getting to the counter," Welcome to McDonalds how may I help you?"

"Linds baby what do you want?"

"Plain double cheeseburger, medium fries, and a large coke"

"Okay and you maam?"

"Just a medium fry and medium Sierra Mist"

"Okay. That'll be 5.78," Catherine hands her 6 dollars and gets back her change," Linds take the food and grab a table I'm gonna use the restroom"

"Okay," Catherine walks to the bathroom and into a stall holding her stomach," God please not again," she heaves into the toilet," This is the part I hate," she heaves again and drops to her knees. She waits a few seconds to see if it's over and stands up flushing the toilet. She walks out of the stall and rinses her mouth out after flushing her face with water. Another woman walks out of a stall and stands next to Catherine," Morning sickness?"

"Yeah. You too?"

"Mmhm. Here," she reaches into her purse and pulls out a bag," These are a godsend for flying and when you don't have anything to calm your stomach," she hands her the bag and Catherine looks at the cough drop looking pieces," Candy?"

"Preggie Pop Drops. I know the name is really lame, but they work. And if you run out of those and can't find any you can get them online or at some maternity stores"

"What do they taste like?"

"They are sour raspberry, lemon, and orange"

"Cool," Catherine looks back up at the woman," Where are you from?"

"Bozeman, Montana why?"

"That's where I'm from"

"Catherine oh my god Catherine Roberts"

"Back then, Catherine Willows now.....Casey......James"

"Casey Hawthorne now. You're married?"

"Divorced him, died a few months later, but hey I got my baby girl out of him," she smiles," You goin back home?"

"Yeah we were on vacation"

"So am I"

"To have the baby?"

"Yeah. How many kids do you have?"

"This is our second"

"That's great"

"Listen when you get settled back home why don't we go out some day and go to lunch?"

"That sounds great," Casey scribbles 2 numbers down on a piece of paper," My home and cell. Give me a call"

"Okay," Catherine leaves and walks over to Lindsey.

********************************************************

"Mom...Mom wake up," Lindsey nudges Catherine and she moans," What?"

"You need to get ready. We leave today"

"That's today?"

"Yes. It's 9:30 now will you get up?"

"I'm up. I'll be out in a second," she hears the door click shut and rolls onto her back looking at the ceiling," I hate having a gut," she gets out of bed and grabs her robe. She stops and looks at herself in the mirror and runs a hand over her stomach. She didn't really have a prominent bump, but it was there and she didn't like sleeping on her stomach. Catherine ties her robe shut and walks down to the kitchen where Lindsey's eating pancakes and bacon," You make breakfast?"

"Yeah yours is in the microwave. Zap it for 30 seconds"

"Okay," Catherine starts the microwave," You take a shower?"

"Yeah"

"Brush your teeth?"

"When I get done eating," she smiles," There's hot water in the kettle"

"Okay," she grabs her plate and pours a cup of hot water sticking a tea bag in it," So the flights about 3 hours......what do you wanna do we have until tomorrow?"

"I figured we'd move my stuff into the room, walk the grounds, then do whatever"

"Okay," Catherine cleans her plate and puts it in the dishwasher," Go get your bags and put what you can in the car. I'm gonna go get ready"

"Okay," Catherine walks back up to her room and throws her closet doors open. She decides on a pair of underbelly 5 pocket stretch crosshatch jeans and a pink cable turtleneck. Lindsey comes in after she changes," I got most of my bags in the car and Nick's putting the others in"

"Okay. You have everything you want out of your room for now, I can send the other stuff?"

"Yeah," Catherine grabs her bag and they turn off all the lights. Catherine grabs her coat, scarf, and purse sliding them on," Come on," they leave the house and Catherine locks the door. They get in the limo and start driving to the airport.

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TBC