Previous part of All Bets Are Off.

***

I managed to get to the car after leaving Sara's and I've been sitting here since, trying to comprehend what's just happened, and why I care so much, it's only been a few days.

I'm not even sure how long I've been sitting here. Looking at my watch I notice almost an hour has passed. I contemplate going back up to Sara's for a second, trying again to get her to listen to me. But then I remember just how angry she was, how helpless I felt, how she made it perfectly clear she wasn't interested in anything I had to say any more.

So I start the car and head home, crawling into bed as soon as I get there, not that I think I'll be able to sleep. My mind is buzzing with her words, I hate myself for hurting her like this, and for making her think I didn't mean any of it. I fall into a fitful sleep really hoping that when I wake, this will all have been a dream.

I arrive at work late; I spent all afternoon with Lindsey and really didn't want to leave her for the reality of work tonight.

I pass Greg's lab and watch him turn away from me, I'm not mad at him; he had no idea what he was doing. I shouldn't have shouted at him, but at the time I couldn't help it. I should probably tell him that, apologize to him. Maybe I will later.

I'm dreading seeing Sara, I have no idea how she's going to react. As I walk towards the break room I see everyone is waiting on me. I guess I won't have to wait long to find out.

As I enter the Break room the guys offer their hello's, Sara is the only one I'm looking at though and she doesn't even look at me. Doesn't even acknowledge me. That hurt.

"Catherine, Sara is all yours again tonight, how's the case coming?"

"Yeah, it's going okay." I say distractedly. I had forgotten I was working with Sara. Still, maybe I can get her to talk to me.

"Good, keep at it."

"I'll get started." Sara tells him as she exits the break room.

Grissom continues talking but I have no idea what about, pretty soon he's leaving.

"Hey Cat, how you holding up?" I look up into Warrick's worried face, not actually sure how to answer I not sure how I'm holding up.

"I don't know Rick, ask me later, when I feel something other than empty inside."

"That bad?" I take it the talk didn't go well?"

"That would be an understatement, it was disastrous. She was so angry."

"Give it some time."

I simply nod in agreement, knowing full well that this is Sara we're talking about, a miracle wouldn't be a lot more useful than time.

"I gotta go, you know my number if you need me."

"Thanks." And once again I'm left alone with my thoughts.

I stand and make my way towards the lab Sara and I are working in; my legs are a little shaky by the time I get there, the nerves back in full force.

"Hi." I offer as I enter the lab, again she doesn't even acknowledge my presence.

I start working in the uncomfortable silence that's surrounding me; I truly wish I could turn back time.

"So how are you?" Seriously lame Cath, that's the best you got? Don't give up your day job babe.

"Don't bother." I know exactly what she means but I press the issue nonetheless.

"Don't bother what?"

"Don't bother talking to me. Don't bother trying to get me to talk to you. Don't bother thinking you're going to be able to sort this out. But most of all don't bother thinking we are ever going to be friends again."

"I just..."

"You're stupider than you look, I said don't bother, I'm not even remotely interested in anything you have to say, understand? We have a case to work I know that, I don't like it, but I'll deal, the quicker I work, the quicker that situation changes. So just shut the fuck up and leave me alone."

I look at her for a second before walking out of the lab towards my office; I need to clear my head. Nothing could have prepared me for the wall of pure anger she's put up. I feel the self-hatred build again at the thought that I caused her the pain behind it.

The funny thing is if she'd have spoken to me like that a month ago I'd of had her ass fired. In fact I can't remember the last time I let somebody talk to me like that but I can't be angry with her for it; not when I'm the reason behind the pain causing this anger.

It takes me a good half an hour to get back to work. Choosing to follow her wishes and just work. It's hard, but I don't think I could deal with any more venom from her right now.

Work carries on in much the same fashion for the next two weeks.

Sara ignores me, I make feeble attempts at talking to her, she either ignores me or gets angry with me. It's made even worse by the fact she still distracts me, even with the contempt for me pouring out of her I still can't keep my eyes of her.

Everyone has noticed, even Grissom. I still haven't apologized to Greg; I don't even go the lab if I can help it, sending whoever I'm working with to get results.

It's getting to the point where I dread work, a job I love, a job I worked my ass off for.

I'd even settle for the strained, animosity filled relationship we had before, anything but this.

I find myself sitting in the locker room after shift staring blankly at the lockers in front of me wondering when in the hell I became the type of person who moped like this? Since you fell for Sara my mind replies. Fell for her? What the...? Why else would it hurt this much?

Well fan-freakin-tastic great time to make that realisation Cath, really though, way to go falling for a woman who hates your guts.

"Hey Cat, you okay?" I jump a little at the unexpected sound of Warrick's voice.

"Oh, hey, didn't hear you come in."

He sits down next to me and regards me for a second.

"Ice queen still freezing you out?"

"Oh yeah."

"You had a lucky escape there though right?"

"What?" I practically shout at him.

"Well you could have ended up actually in a relationship with her, good thing you didn't, since you clearly don't want to be."

What is he talking about, I've been mopping around like a fool for two weeks because I don't want to be with her?

"What are you talking about? Of course I want to be with her."

"Oh sorry, I just assumed the way you we're moping around but not actually doing anything about it that you didn't want to." I sit here as his words sink in, he's right; I haven't done anything but mope.

"And I for one am glad you're not with her."

"Why would you say that?"

"Well come on, look at how you're behaving, I've never seen you give up so easily."

"I haven't given up I just don't know what to do."

"Oh yeah, because that's a situation you've never been in before isn't it. I've seen you wing your way out of a bind a million and one times."

Again he's right I've never let that stop me before.

"Like I said, I'm glad you're not with her, you've been acting totally different to your usual self for weeks now. And all after being with her for a day or two, think how different you'd be had it been long term."

"I'm really acting that different?"

"Oh hell yeah, since when do you mope?" He's right, I don't. "Since when do you let people treat you like she's been doing lately?" Right again, it doesn't happen. "And most importantly, since when do you give up on the things you really want? For Christ's sake Catherine you're the most determined person I know, don't you think you should start acting like it?"

His words sink in and I feel the anger slowly start to build, he is right, how could I not be doing anything and everything to make this right, god knows I want her badly enough. And on top of that who the hell does she think she is talking to me like that? Treating me like she has been, before even hearing my side of the story.

"You're right." I stand up and practically stomp to my locker, grabbing my jacket. "I can't believe I've put up with this for so long, she is so going to listen to me."

"You want to be with her right?"

"Yes." Of that I have no doubt.

"You sure? The giving up seemed to be working so well for you." He smiles.

"Not a chance in hell." I say heading towards the door. "I gotta go, got someone I need to talk to."

I walk out then pop my head back around the door. "Warrick."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for the kick up the ass."

"Anytime, now go get her."

I turn to leave, heading straight for my car. She's going to listen to me, even if I have to shout it through her door.

***

I practically stomp to Sara's apartment after I get out of the car. She's going to listen to me whether she likes it or not.

This time when I reach her door there's no trepidation, no nervousness. Determination is a wonderful thing.

She opens the door and I barge past her into the apartment, just in case she got any ideas about slamming the door in my face.

"What part of don't bother didn't you understand?"

I hold my hand up gesturing for her to shut up.

"I left once, that's not going to happen now. You best shut the door because I'm not leaving till you hear me out."

"Catherine..." She's using her best warning voice but I don't give a crap.

"Not gonna work. The only way you're getting me out of here before hearing me out is if you physically throw me out, and if you do, I'll just shout it all through the door. I'm sure the neighbours would love a little show."

She's looking at me shocked and angry; after my pitiful efforts before I don't blame her. Thankfully she seems to resign herself to the fact that I'm not leaving.

"Fine, whatever." She says as she closes the door then makes her way to the sofa, trying to ignore me.

I move and sit on the table in front of her, so she can't avoid me.

"Now I want you to listen to me, then after I've explained, if you still want me to leave, I will."

"Whatever." I can work with that.

"I want you to tell me exactly what Greg said to you."

She looks at me disbelief.

"Quicker we do this, quicker you get me out of here." Please work, please work.

"Fine." Thank god. "He said you'd made a bet with him in the diner a few weeks back that you could get a date with the next person who walked in, it just happened to be me. He said he told you that you should wait for whoever came in after me but you didn't want to. He also said the two weeks we're up, then started going on about his new night off."

"That was what he won when I lost, he gets my night off, and I work for him."

"I don't believe you." Thank god, she's actually talking to me.

"Then don't." I grab my cell phone dialling Greg's number. "Ask Greg, you know he won't lie to you." It's ringing so she has no choice but to talk to him.

A few minutes and a slightly awkward conversation later she turns the phone off.

"You hadn't told him? He said he won, I don't get it."

"Because it had nothing to do with the bet, yes I made the bet, I'm an idiot sometimes. But I was going to see Greg to tell him I forfeit when I saw you in the locker room."

"I only asked you out the day before Greg told me, you could have just not had time to tell him." Valid point.

"True, but you asked me to breakfast weeks before, I could have told him that was a date, or any of the other times we went out after that couldn't I?"

"But they weren't dates."

"Would he have known that? After I told him I could have just asked him not to say anything, because you're such a private person, then you'd never have known."

She looks confused, good, that's what I wanted.

"The fact is that yes, the bet put the idea in my head but that's all. The rest was all you. I had a million chances to tell Greg. But I didn't, I know I should have told him I wanted out but as soon as you asked me to go to breakfast with you. But I knew if I told him, that he'd tell you, and you'd get the wrong impression, and I didn't want that. I wanted to tell you myself. We were actually becoming friends, after so long and I didn't want to ruin that."

"I don't understand why you didn't just tell me."

"No and honestly neither do I. You know why I didn't at first. Then I kept getting distracted, having more important things on my mind."

"Like what?"

"Like you, like dealing with a very sudden attraction to a co-worker, a female co-worker at that, like trying to get my hormones under control whenever I was around you. Then I totally forgot about it, after I kissed you everything else didn't seem to matter so much." The memory of her kisses alone makes me flush, and I fight the urge to look at her mouth, not right now.

"And if you remember correctly you asked me out, if it was so important to me wouldn't I have asked you out right away? Not waited?"

"I guess."

"And I'd have been on the phone two minutes after you left to tell Greg I won if it was as important to me as you think, wouldn't I?"

"Yeah." Please let her finally be seeing sense.

"And now I want you to tell me something, and I want you to really think before you answer. When we kissed, did it feel real? Did it feel like I didn't want to be kissing you? Did it feel like it was the last thing I wanted to be doing? Or did it feel like I wanted it?"

Thankfully she thinks about it for a second before answering.

"It felt real." She whispers. YES!

I move to kneel on the floor directly in front of her, making her look at me.

"It was real, god I can't describe how it felt to kiss you. I didn't want to be anywhere else but with you, and please, please believe me when I tell you I did not do it for a bet."

She's confused, and I don't blame her, I would be to, I can tell she wants to believe me, which is all the encouragement I need.

"Would I be here now if I didn't care? If this had all been some big joke to me."

Come on Sara please see that I'm telling the truth.

"Bets over right? I lost."

"What?"

"You spoke to Greg; the bet is over isn't it?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So now, when I do this, there's no reason for me to do it unless I want to."

She looks at me, still confused, seems to be the theme for the day. It doesn't last long though because I lean in, pressing my lips to hers.

I feel her try to pull away, but I follow her, until she's pressed into the sofa with me on top of her, since I'm still kneeling on the floor this is really uncomfortable, but I don't care.

She's not kissing me back, but I'm not about to give up.

I tease her bottom lip with my tongue, pulling back just enough to whisper. "Kiss me." Against her lips, and then kiss her again. Her body starts to relax. "Please." I whisper.

Thank god I think as she finally starts to respond, kissing me back, tangling her hands in my hair as her mouth slowly opens up to me, greeting my tongue hello with her own.

A minute or so later I pull back from our kiss, panting slightly. I don't move though away though, I need this connection with her.

When I have my breathing under control I speak. "That was real; I did that because I wanted nothing more than to have you kiss me. We could have something here, and whatever you think right now, whatever is going through your mind, know this; I want you, no ulterior motives, and no outside influence, just me telling you how I feel."

"Cath I..."

"Shh, don't answer now. Think, then when you know for sure what you want, come find me, I'm not going anywhere."

I stand and turn to leave; I got her to listen to me and gave her something to think about, now it's time to let her think. Decide if she trusts what I'm saying, because it's all irrelevant anyway if she doesn't.

I just about make it to the door when she grabs my hand.

"Please don't go, stay with me."

As if I'd want to be anywhere else. I let her guide me back to the sofa as I silently thank whatever god it was that decided we get another chance.

***

I wake up that afternoon sprawled on top of Sara, we spoke some more, and ended up falling asleep on her sofa; I lift my head to find her already awake.

"Hi." She says brushing some of my dishevelled hair out of my face.

"Hi yourself. Thank you, for letting me stay."

"I wasn't going to, I'm still not sure about anything, I just knew I didn't want you to go, I didn't even know if you would stay."

I snuggle back into her, resting my head on her shoulder.

"I'm glad you asked, there was never a doubt about me saying yes."

"Do you have to get Lindsey from school?"

"Yeah, what's the time?" I don't even lift my head; I'm far too comfortable where I am.

"It's almost two."

"Uh, that means I have to move and I have issues with that right now, you're way too comfy."

She wraps her arms around me tighter, kissing the top of my head.

"But teenagers wait for no man, or woman in this case."

"True, true, I best get up now, else you'll be trapped here forever."

I untangle myself from her and stand up; I'm still not fully awake.

"You want me to come with? We can get food, Go the movies or something."

"Honestly?" I don't think I ever want to let her leave my sight again.

"I think that's best, especially given the circumstances."

"I agree. So honestly, yes. I want you to come with me, then I want you to come to work with me, then I want to leave and have you come home with me."

"I..."

I don't let her finish, she understandably looks a little overwhelmed by my sudden declaration. "But, that's the selfish part of me talking, the rest of me thinks you need time to think and that I should leave and let you have it."

I turn and grab my jacket from the chair.

"Don't you think it's dangerous leaving me to my own devices; god knows what scenarios my mind will come up with when I'm left to wallow." She smiles at me, the first genuine smile I've seen from her since I got here.

"Very dangerous." I say wrapping my arms around her waist. "But you have all the facts now, so you need to sort it all out in your own head, without anyone interfering."

"You're right, but I don't have to like it." She grins.

"I do however think you should have no doubts about what I want, how I feel. So when I leave I want you to remember what I said last night, and know I meant every word of it. I want you; in what capacity is entirely up to you. If you want us to just be friends, then okay, I won't lie and say I won't be disappointed because I will. If you decide you want more, that's okay too, in fact, that's more than okay." I smile. "But no pressure, okay?"

"Okay."

"Right I'm leaving now, see you at work?"

"I'll be there." She places a soft kiss on my cheek and I turn and leave I've done all I can, told her how I feel, it's all up to her now.

Arriving at work that night I don't know what will happen when I see Sara. We have a case together so I know I'll see her, she'll be professional and get her work done, as always. But beyond that I don't know, and I'm more that a little nervous. A part of me is screaming that I shouldn't have left her alone, but the logical part of my brain knows I did the right thing.

I bump into Warrick as I walk into the locker room.

"Hay Cat, how'd it go?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

I sit on the bench and he sits next to me.

"After I left I went back and made her listen, I think she believed me, but I'm not sure, I was going to leave but she asked me to stay."

"That's gotta be a good sign right?"

"Yeah I think so. We talked some more, ended up falling asleep on her sofa. When we woke up I told her she should think about what I said, then I left."

"You did the right thing, she's gotta make her mind up on her own here."

"I know, but I can't help wishing I'd stayed, or made her come with me."

"She'll come and find you when she's ready to talk; all you can do is be patient."

"I know; doesn't make it any easier though."

He looks at me apologetically, nodding.

"I hate to do this but Gris is waiting for me, so I have to go, sorry."

"No problem, thanks for listening."

"Any time, you know that, catch you later."

"Be careful out there." I offer as he leaves.

My mind immediately going back to Sara, Warrick is right, all I can do is wait.

"Hi." I look up see Sara standing in the doorway looking nervous. Maybe I won't have to wait to long.

"Hi." I reply smiling, I feel as nervous as she looks.

"You okay?" She asks finally walking into the locker room.

"Ask me later." I say, half joking, I'm not entirely sure how I am right this minute.

"Yeah me too." She sits next to me and I fight the urge to lean into her, not sure how she'd react to that right now.

I'm not sure how to handle this situation; the nervousness between us is something new. The arguing and bitching I could deal with, but this is unknown and I don't know what unnerves me more. The atmosphere between us or the fact that I don't know how to handle it.

"I thought a lot after you left pretty much all I did till it was time to come to work."

"And?" I ask as, holding my breath, waiting for her answer.

"And I don't know, I believe you, it's not that, I just don't know."

She believes me YES! I wonder if she'd be okay with me doing a happy dance.

"You don't know about what."

"I don't know if there should be an us." Okay, so maybe the happy dance can wait. "Whether we should just not, I mean look at what's already happened and that was after a whole two days, maybe we should just quit while we're ahead." I think I want to vomit I feel sick, how can she think that.

"But." There's a but? Please let this be something good. "Now I see you, none of that seems important, not as important as being with you, so I'd say I'm more than a little confused."

My heart soars at her word, that's all the encouragement I need not to give up.

"That's okay, you need more time to think, like I said, I'm not going anywhere. Take all the time you need."

"Thank you." She says smiling, then standing up, holding her hand out to me, using it to pull me up when I grab it. "Come on, we should get to work."

"Yeah, let's go."

I go to walk past her, her hand still in mine; I don't get far though because she pulls me back around to her. She's so close I can feel the heat coming from her body. She's just looks at me, not saying anything.

"You okay?"

She just nods; it looks like she's deep in thought. I'm about to ask her what she's thinking about when she leans in; capturing my lips with hers, she proceeds to kiss me senseless, leaving me panting when she pulls back.

"I realise that I've just given you totally mixed messages, but I really needed to kiss you. Sorry."

She's apologising for that, she must be insane. "It's okay, and what I said still stands, although if you feel the need to kiss me in future, please don't hold back on my account."

"Thank you, I'll remember that." She says, and then turns to leave, dragging me with her.

As I leave the locker room I feel a million times better than when I went in.

***

The next few days nothing changes, I don't push her and she doesn't bring it up.

Thankfully we haven't returned to the animosity that was so often present between us before, just the odd heated debate about work; but it's always forgotten as soon as it begins. We've spent some time together outside work, she sits a little closer, is a little more tactile than before, but other than that it's all platonic.

It's hard though, I want so much more from her, but I told her to take all the time she needed and I fully intent to stick by that.

I've invited her to my place for breakfast after shift. She looked a little reluctant; we've not been totally alone since the locker room the other day. Which is pretty much why I did it. Selfish I know but I want her to myself for a few hours. Not that I intend to even bring it up, I simply just want to spend time with her.

She was running late so she said she'd just come over when she finished.

My phone bleeps with a text message, it's Sara telling me she's on her way. So I head to the kitchen to put the coffee on.

A few minutes later there's a knock on my door, I feel a bit nervous as I head to open it.

"Hey, come on in." I say closing the door after her, directing her to the kitchen and following her.

"Hey, how was your night?" She asks, sitting at my kitchen table.

"Not to bad, pretty easy case, what about your night?"

"It was okay, nothing unusual. I would have been here earlier but I had a car to rip apart and you know how much I love that." She smiles at me as I turn to the counter. Images of her in her boiler suit all sweaty and breathing hard rush into my head, I'm sure I'm blushing; thankfully I'm not facing her.

Having got control of my traitorous mind I head back with the coffee and sit down with her.

"I brought us breakfast." She announces showing me a bag I didn't even notice she had brought in.

"Great, what do we have?" She's so thoughtful.

"Bit of everything, I stopped at my favourite bakery, got bagels, croissants, even doughnuts; I know you get cranky without your sugar fix." She laughs.

"Cheeky." I say slapping her on the arm as I get up to grab some plates. "Wanna go to the living room? Curl up on the sofa while we eat?"

"Sounds fantastic." She follows me into the living room and we sit on the sofa.

Breakfast passes with us just chatting and laughing about nothing in particular.

I'm facing forwards with my feet on the coffee table and she's sitting side on, facing me with her arm resting across the back of the sofa. Sometime while we we're talking she started running her thumb back and forth over my shoulder. She went quiet a few seconds ago but I didn't think anything of it. I had assumed she hadn't even noticed what she was doing until I notice her eyes watching her thumb move.

"You okay?"

She doesn't take her eyes from her thumb. "I love these little freckles on your shoulders." I wasn't expecting that, it's out of the blue but makes me smile nonetheless. I'm glad she feels comfortable enough to say what she's feeling.

"Erm, thank you. Where did that come from?"

She shrugs. "I don't know, just felt like saying it, they're cute."

She leans forward and places a tiny kiss on my shoulder. Then starts running her thumb across it again.

"They're the first thing I noticed about you, that's weird isn't it, noticing them first?" She chuckles. "I always knew you were gorgeous; I have eyes. But associating the word cute with you was a new one."

She's still not looking at me; it's almost as if she's talking to herself. She seems to want to get this out of her system so I don't interrupt her.

"It was when we were on the Sherman case, you were looking at something in the microscope and I was standing next to you. You had a tank top on and I remember noticing these and thinking how cute they are, then asking myself where the hell that came from."

She finally brings her eyes up to mine, I have no idea what's going through her mind, she looks lost in thought.

"I love your eyes too, they're so expressive, and your smile, and you look really, really sexy with your glasses on." She smiles.

She sits up and moves away from me, her expression changing to one of confusion.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up, it's just...I'm still confused and I'm trying to sort it out in my own head."

"Your hands." If she's still confused I want to do everything I can to convince her we should give whatever the hell this is a chance.

"What?"

"The first thing I noticed about you was your hands." I won't mention what I want those hands to do to me every time I look at them, or just how much they distract me.

"They're so soft, but strong at the same time, they fascinate me."

I have no clue where this conversation is going, or what it's even about.

"I think I'd better go." She says as she stands up, I can't hide the disappointment that crosses my face.

"Do you have to?" I really want her to stay.

"No, but I think I should, I should go sleep or something."

God this is so damn frustrating, I want to make her stay, I know I could if I tried but I promised no pressure, it's hard as hell though.

"Okay." I sigh. I take her to the front door and watch her get in the car and drive away. I feel like screaming at this whole situation, not that I can blame anyone but myself for it.

I drag myself to bed figuring I might as well sleep, or I'll just mope around the house brooding. My head as barely hit the pillow when I hear a knock on my front door.

I make my way downstairs to find Sara on my doorstep.

"Hey, everything okay? You forget something?" I say holding the door open for her.

"Kind of, I forgot this." She says as both of her hands come up to cup my face. I don't get chance to ask her what she means, I'm to busy kissing her back.

I hear her whimper as our tongues meet. The kiss is slow and amazingly sweet, and I think I'm addicted to the feel of her mouth on mine.

She pulls back after a few minutes and her hands fall from my face.

"My goodnight kiss."

"What?" I say as my brain functions return.

"I forgot my goodnight kiss." She seems immensely happy with herself right now.

"Oh right, well I'm glad you came back for it."

"I really will go this time."

"Stay, don't go." It's out of my mouth before I even realise and I know I shouldn't ask but I want her here.

"I don't know, I don't think it's a good idea."

"Then don't think, just do. I'm only saying sleep here. If you don't want to sleep with me I have a spare room. I know it's selfish but I want you here when I wake up." That makes her smile.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am, so what do you say?" Please say yes, please say yes.

"Okay." I can hear the uncertainty in her voice.

"Great, come on, I'm tired."

I grab her hand and lead her upstairs, shooing her into the bathroom then going to get a top and shorts for her to borrow.

"Now you go shower." She told me last week she can't sleep after work without showering first. "Then sleep, the spare room is on the left, my room is straight ahead, so it's totally up to you, whatever you decide is fine."

I lean up and give her a quick kiss before heading to my room to pray to every god I can think of that she chooses to sleep in here with me.

I hear the water cut off and about ten minutes later the bathroom door opens. I hold my breath waiting to see if she's going to join me. When my bedroom door opens and she walks in, I don't have the words for how happy she's just made me.

She walks over to the bed and climbs right in behind me; I sigh in pure contentment as she wraps her arms around me and pulls me back into her.

"Thanks for asking me to stay." As if I'd want her anywhere else.

"Thank you for staying, night baby, sleep well." I cover her hands with my own, snuggling into her even more.

"Goodnight Cat." Comes her sleepy reply.

I wake around one, groaning when I realise I'll have to move soon, to go get Lindsey. I'm in pretty much the same position I went to sleep in, comfortably wrapped up in Sara's arms.

I run my fingers up and down her forearms simply because I can, her skin is so soft.

"So you're finally awake then."

"I thought you were still asleep."

"Been awake a while, was just too comfy to move."

"Hmmm me too."

"But you're awake now sleeping beauty, so I think we should get moving, I need to go home and change and you need to get Lindsey."

"No." I groan turning around and burying my head in her neck.

"Yep, come on woman, besides I need food."

"You're just plain evil Sidle."

She chuckles. "I know, I know." She unwraps herself from me despite my protests and jumps out of bed, taking away my comfort.

"Now come on, I'll make coffee while you shower." And with that she's gone.

Twenty minutes later I enter the kitchen to the fabulous aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Grabbing a seat at the table and waiting for her to bring me the French toast she's made.

"I'll head home once I've finished this, get changed and ready for work."

"Okay, I know I said it already, but thank you for staying."

"I had nowhere else to be." She jokes; clearly she wants to keep this light.

Half an hour later I'm watching her leave my house again, only this time I'm happy. We took a step forward last night; we seem to have made real progress. I just hope she doesn't decide to take two steps back now.

***

It's been a few weeks since I convinced Sara to stay the night with me and things have been slowly progressing. Nothing heavy; we talk a lot, and spend time together. Mostly just relaxing, although there has been plenty of kissing and I've had to pull back on more than one occasion for fear of my hormones getting the better of me and me doing something she's not ready for.

She's slowly letting me back in and I couldn't be more grateful for the second chance. I haven't tried to define what's between us, and I refuse to pressure her into anything. I'll wait until she decides it's time. When I'm with her though, cuddled up on my sofa, everything is perfect; I just hope she feels the same way.

Shift is boring tonight, Grissom decided we needed to get all our paperwork up to date, but what actually happened was I'm stuck doing paperwork while he was called out.

The fact that Sara had asked me to her place after breakfast wasn't helping with the dragging time issue either. Looking at my watch I see shift is almost over, thank god for that.

Sara isn't back yet so I head to the break room to wait for her.

She appears about twenty minutes later looking happy.

"Hey Hun, you're looking happy with yourself."

"Ah, that's because I am, got a confession of my suspect thanks to the fingerprints I pulled from my vic's car yesterday."

"Ah, well done, you ready to go."

"Yep, just gotta grab my jacket from the locker room."

We head down there and while I'm waiting outside for her I bump into Greg. We've hardly spoken since I blew up at him, and when we have, I've kept it strictly work related. I know I should apologize; it's been weeks after all. But I've been too preoccupied with Sara to worry about him. I don't even know how Warrick explained my outburst, but I know he isn't the sort of guy who would share that kind of information without making sure it was okay.

I'm sure he cringes when he sees me. "Hi Catherine." I can clearly hear the trepidation in his voice. I'll cut him some slack, it's not like he even did anything wrong, really.

"Hey Greg, you doing okay?" He smiles when I don't automatically bite his head off.

Sara chooses that moment to exit the locker room.

"Hi Greg."

"Cool, you're both here; I wanted to apologize for the other week. I'm not really sure what I've done, Warrick was sketchy with the details, but I upset you both, obviously not my intention."

"Thanks Greg, although I should apologize, I had no right flipping on you like that, you weren't to know, so I'm sorry."

"I still don't know." He grins. "But that's cool, it looks like you guys are friends now, which is good."

"Yeah it is, thanks Greggo, we're gonna go grab food, catch you later." Sara offers.

"Although I did have to laugh. I'm glad everything's cool with you both now, but the thought of you two together is ridiculous."

As soon as his words register Sara's happy mood disappears. God can he ever not put his foot in it. I want to screams at him again, but it's not his fault.

"Yeah, bye Greg." Sara says then walks away. I don't even say bye, just follow her. I open the door to the parking lot hoping she hasn't left without me and feel relief was over me when I see her waiting in her car. I climb in and turn to talk to her; obviously Greg's words have put doubt in her mind.

"Can we talk at my place?"

She knew what was coming. "Okay, sure."

She nods as she starts the engine. Neither of us talks on the way, I'm beginning to think she was right, we should just give up. I'm not sure I can handle all these ups and downs.

We walk in silence up to Sara's apartment.

"He's wrong." She says as she closes the door behind herself and walks over to me.

"What?"

"Greg, he's wrong, the thought of me and you together is anything but ridiculous."

"I thought he'd put doubts in your mind."

"The opposite actually." She says bringing her hands up to my hips. "I think I knew the morning I woke up with you, I should have said something, but I needed to be sure before I told you how I felt. Then as soon as Greg said that, all I could think was how wrong he is. How it felt right waking up with you, how right it feels being with you and that if the offer of giving this a chance is still open, I'd very much like to take it."

I'm staring at her in total awe; I thought for sure she'd decided to give up. I throw my hands around her neck, pulling her in for a quick kiss. "Of course it's still open." I'm absolutely ecstatic.

"Excellent." She replies with a smile before pulling me in for another kiss.

Her tongue seeks entrance to my mouth and I happily grant it.

Her hands make their way slowly up my sides pulling me to her as they go, ghosting over my breasts before tangling themselves in my hair, pulling me deeper into her kiss. There's an urgency in this kiss that I've never felt from her before, and it's making me weak. I feel and hear her groan in pleasure as I tease her with my tongue, taking her bottom lip between my teeth, sucking it gently.

When oxygen becomes a problem I reluctantly pull back, gasping for breath. I feel her tilt my head back as her lips attach themselves to my neck, finding my pulse point and flicking her tongue over it, making me whimper. I want to move my hands from their resting place on her waist but the way she's touching me is making thought almost impossible, never mind major motor skills.

"I want you…now." She says returning her mouth to mine. Her words send shivers down my spine as her hands leave my hair and immediately slip under my top; running around to my back, tracing random patterns. She starts walking us backwards towards her bedroom and we're just about to cross the threshold when I stop her, and pull back so I can look at her.

I take a few minutes to get my ragged breath under control, a task not helped by her still moving hands.

"What's up? Too soon? I totally understand if…" She makes to step back from me but I don't let her, shaking my head no.

"That's not it, I want this, I want you, god do I want you." I cut her off bringing my hand up to run my fingers across the soft skin of her cheek.

"But once we do this." I gesture towards the bed with my hand. "There's no going back." The affect her kisses and simple touches have on me leave no doubt in my mind about that. "So if you're anything less than one hundred percent sure, if there's any doubt whatsoever at all; then we shouldn't."

"You may have noticed that I'm pretty much an all or nothing kind of girl, I don't do things by halves. There's no way I'd be here right now if it wasn't what I wanted. I'll always have doubts and insecurities but I do want this. You're pretty much stuck with me now." She smiles.

That's all I needed, she is so mine now. "Actually I do have one big doubt." I'm about to freak when she lowers her mouth to my ear "I highly doubt you'll need so many clothes for this next part."

Then her teeth are nipping at the skin just below my ear and everything fades away besides her. She resumes her earlier action of pushing us into the bedroom, only stopping when my legs hit the bed.

A huge part of my wants to tear her clothes off, throw her on the bed and make her scream till she passes out; but I know there will be time for that later. Right now I want to reassure her, show her how much I care for her.

I feel her hands slowly moving up my sides, taking my top with them, lifting my arms to help her remove it. Mimicking her actions as I remove her top, running my fingertips over her stomach and chest, revelling in the silky softness of her skin.

I move in closer to her and kiss her again, bringing my hands up her back to undo her bra. I slowly move the straps down her arms, caressing her skin as I go, swallowing her moans.

I grab her hips and turn her around, pushing us on to the bed, climbing on top of her, straddling her then immediately leaning down to recapture her mouth. I reach around and undo my own bra; I'm impatient to feel her skin on mine.

The first touch makes us both moan; I wasn't prepared for how soft she feels beneath me. I moan again as her hands slide over my ass. Her fingers move to my front and she pops the button on my jeans.

I move my mouth to her neck as she slides my zip down. Sliding her hands just inside then moving them back around to my backside, pushing my jeans over my hips as she goes. I few slightly awkward moves later my jeans join the rest of the clothes on the floor.

I move my mouth down to her chest, kissing and caressing every bit of skin available.

Bringing my hands up to rid us both of our remaining clothes. I need to feel all of her. A minute later and I'm straddling her, gasping at the sight of a beautifully naked Sara underneath me.

"You are perfect." I run my fingers across her cheek. I want to stay here and just look at her forever, just drink in this perfect sight but my body most definitely has other ideas.

I slowly lower myself on to her; bringing my lips to hers, moaning as our tongues start moving. Kissing her for long moments before moving my mouth to her neck, then slowly kissing my way down to her chest. Her hand comes up to keep my head in place as I finally reach her breasts. Taking my time to kiss around each one before focusing my attention on her straining nipples, her back arches as I take one into my mouth, laving it with my tongue. I can't describe how it feels to be with her like this to have her arching beneath me and gasping at my touch.

She moans my name when I move my attention to her other nipple, hearing it only serving to slow me down, make me want to spend longer exploring her body and hearing her moan.

I move to her stomach, kissing my way around, feeling her muscles twitch every time I kiss her.

I'm pulled from my course by her hands pulling my head up to catch my mouth in a searing kiss.

I grab her sides and roll us over; I want her on top of me.

Her leg comes to rest between mine and with a roll of her hips she presses her thigh into me. Christ it feels incredible.

"Sara..." I manage to gasp out as she rolls her hips again.

I bring my hands to her hips to stop their movement, I want her to be first and if she keeps that up I won't be coherent enough to care soon.

She has a slight look of confusion on her face at my actions but I just pull her head down to mine, bringing our lips together.

My hand moves from her hip to her lower stomach moving as slow as my raging desire will allow.

Pulling back from our kiss to watch her reaction as I slide my fingers lower, gasping as they are enveloped by liquid heat, this feels so sexy. She hisses my name as her eyes flutter closed and her hips start rocking.

"You're so beautiful." I'm mesmerised by the sight before me, eyes closed, breath ragged, skin flushed, lost in sensation, she looks amazing.

She's moaning almost constantly now, it's the sexiest thing I've ever heard, I feel my own body respond to her.

I finally slip my fingers inside, slowly filling her, moaning right along with her at the sensation. I want to give her all the pleasure I can so I curl my fingers with each slow thrust.

"Catherine...you...feel...so good." She manages to gasp out between panting.

Her mouth crashes into mine as her hips pick up speed; I keep my fingers in time with her hips, letting her take what she needs. Feeling her tightening around my fingers I pull away from our kiss.

"Sara, look at me." I need to see the exact moment she goes over the edge and have her know it was me that took her there.

"Please, I need to see you." Her eyes slowly open and I can see her fighting to focus them on me.

A moment later she goes ridged, moaning my name long and low as her body shakes in release, I keep moving inside her, wanting to draw out her pleasure. She throws her head back as she rides out her release, before collapsing on to me. She moans again as I withdraw my fingers, making me want her all over again.

"You are amazing." She says after her breathing returns to normal.

"No baby, you're the amazing one, you looked so beautiful." I reply, lightly kissing her on the forehead.

She doesn't lift her head of my shoulder for a good few minutes and I'm content to just hold her.

"Why did I not jump you as soon as I saw you?" She jokes, finally lifting her head to meet my eyes.

I move her hair behind her ear. "I doubt I'd have been very receptive then."

"Ah, well I'm hoping that's changed, I can only assume you're not in the business of giving any old work colleague a mind-blowing orgasm?"

"Well, only the really special ones." I joke back. She slides off me and snuggles into my side.

"Good, although I fully admit to being the jealous type."

"Well it's a good job you have nothing and no one to be jealous of." I say seriously; in case there's any part of her that needs to hear it.

She smiles big at me before continuing. "Anyway you never answered my question, I take it you'd be receptive to my advances now?"

"Oh yeah, very receptive."

"Good, I'm glad to hear that."

I'm about to make a reply when my lips are otherwise engaged and as the hand she had resting on my stomach makes its way south, all I can do is feel.

***

Epilogue

We arrive at work together tonight, having spent the whole day together. After this morning we slept, then spent the afternoon with Lindsey. Thankfully she knows Sara so there was no awkwardness. I'm certain she'll be fine when she finds out we're together, she's always got along better with my girlfriends than she has with my boyfriends.

Sara has been so much happier today, but then again so have I. Thankfully it seems the stress from the past few weeks is fading.

"Hey Cat." Sara says snapping me out of my thoughts. We're just putting our things away in our lockers before getting to work.

"Yeah babe?"

"What do you say we torment Greggo a little? I figure he owes us for putting his foot in his mouth, however unwittingly."

"You're in a very good mood tonight."

"I know, I can't for the life of me think why though, must have gotten a good sleep." She deadpans.

"Yeah, that must be it." I laugh.

"So what do you say?" She has a mischievous look in her eye that I can't refuse.

"Lead on woman." I say taking her offered hand and being dragged out of the locker room towards Greg's lab

Just as we reach it she stops and turns to talk to me. Leaning in so only I can hear her.

"When we've finished here can we go to your office?"

"Sure, why?"

Her voice is all low and lust filled, making me shiver. "I have this fantasy of taking you on your desk; I can't seem to get it out of my head, so I figured we could make it a reality."

Oh Christ, the images she's just given me bringing my brain to a standstill. She pulls back and drags me into the lab, I can't form words yet so I just stand there like a fool.

"Ah Greggo, I need a word."

"Always a pleasure ladies, what can I do for you?"

"I believe you've been misinformed regarding a certain bet you made with Catherine."

"How so?" He says sceptically.

"You lost, she won, that's how so. I believe that makes you her personal slave for the day."

"I won; she didn't get a date with you."

"Ah Greg that's where you're wrong. I asked her out the day before the bet finished, you just assumed otherwise because she didn't say anything."

I'm still standing around like a fool, where is this coming from.

"NO WAY!" Shock evident in his voice. A look of realisation passing across his face as it sets in exactly what he accidentally did by telling Sara before I did, understanding why she was so angry.

"It's true, but since I was the one who suffered the most hardship due to this bet I think it's only fair that you're both my slave for the day...anyone have any objections?" She pauses and looks at us both. "Catherine?"

"Err...no." I might protest, if my brain was functioning correctly.

"Good." I swear she leers at me when she says this, ensuring that I'm very much looking forward to doing whatever she asks of me.

"Greg?"

"I don't believe you, seriously?"

"Fine." She walks right over to me, dips her head down and kisses me. Oh good god she's good at that.

"Proof enough?" She says turning to face him once she's finished kissing me senseless. He just nods in response, his eyes threatening to pop out of his head

"Good, you can start by brewing me some of that coffee you're famous for, I'll be back in a while for it."

She leans into me again, only this time it's to tell me something.

"I'll be in your office...oh and bring your glasses." She winks.

With that she turns towards the door.

"Oh and next time you two decide to make a bet involving me...don't."

And with that she's gone, leaving both Greg and I totally shocked in the lab.

"Wow, you...and Sara...wow."

"You get the feeling that we've both just been had Greg?"

He nods. Oh she's good, she's very good. And she's waiting for me elsewhere. "Sorry Greggo, gotta go, I have some reading to do in my office."

I leave him standing there still in shock and head to my office to meet my boss for the day.

***