Title: I'm Not Sure How It Happened
Author: Dearlylovedaimee
Rating: PG
Pairing: Catherine and Sara
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters; all rights go to those who do. I am just using them
Series: Unrequited Love Series
Notes: This is my first attempt at fan fiction, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

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I'm not sure how it happened. I mean I thought we were just
friends. Hell, I'm not even sure we were that. Yeah, okay maybe we said
our occasional "Heys" and "How are yous," but beyond that
there was never really anything. We were basically acquaintances. We worked together
and we were civil but we didn't know really know each other. We
went about our business with this kind of unspoken agreement; I let her do
her job, and she let me do mine. I only say that, because neither one
of us ever really made an effort to change it around. I mean, shit I
have always been careful to never let my person and professional
paths cross. But it's funny how in one moment, one morning, and
in one conversation that could all be changed.

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

It was directly after we finished talking to Diane Lambert's
grandson, Cory. Sara and I were ready to head home and then he walked
in. I don't know if she knew, but I knew even before he said two
words. I could see it coming a mile away. I could sense it in his
body language and read it in his face. I also put two and two
together early, when we discovered that he was sitting with another
woman in the window of a bar. Call it women's intuition or just
good old fashioned experience. Sara, however just completely dismissed the
obvious. I mean, as far as CSIs come, she is one of the best; but her
perception was blinded by her trust. She honestly had no idea Hank
was screwing Elaine Alcott. How naïve could she really be? Was she
that blind to think they were just having a drink? What ever runs
through that girls mind, I'll never know.

But then that somehow changed. I realized that day she came back from
talking to Elaine and told me that she had nothing to add to the
case, she was upset. Again I say, she is a wonderful girl, but
terrible at lying and hiding her emotions. She had found something to
tip her off and now she was internally paying the price for her
stupidity and misplaced trust. That's when I started to regret
not telling her. Than again, that would have unwillingly put me in
the "most hated person alive" category and I certainly
didn't feel like going there. But still I couldn't help but feel like I
betrayed her, almost as much as Hank did.

I was blatantly aware of the heated tension between the two lovers so
I took that as my cue. I quickly dismissed myself from the building
and headed to my car. I still am not all to clear on the details of
what happened in the building; all I knew was when I saw Sara leaving
that my suspicion was confirmed. There was no doubt about it, they
were over!

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

God knows that Sara Sidle wasn't my first choice for a drinking
companion, but I couldn't just let her go through this alone.
Despite what most people believe I am not a heartless bitch. I have been
there before and I just couldn't do that to her. Not now, not
when she truly needed a friends. So I immediately reverted to mother mode
and offered to get a beer with her. I know, I know 9:30 in the
morning isn't exactly the best time to attempt a drunken journey,
but unfortunately it was all I had to offer.

I didn't think much of it at the time, but it seemed like she
rather enjoyed my feeble offering to be her confident; and I must say that I
am not to sure how I felt about that. But then again that was Sarah. 
I mean, out of all the CSIs I've worked with in my time, she
seemed to be the only one that has ever managed to get under my skin. I
could never read her and just when I thought I may have crossed a
bridge, another damn goes up. I admit that in the past I haven't
made much of an attempt to be kind but the main reasons were always the
same. I never felt there was a point. Even if I did break her down,
would she just re-build? The one thing I am more than certain about
is that even thought she drove me completely nuts, there was this
other side of me that had a hidden desire to spend more time with
her. Call it what you will but that is how I feel and frankly that
scares me. But today I was finally going to unravel the mystery that
is Sarah Sidle.

As we drove to Carl's Pub outside of Vegas nothing much was said.
She just sat in the passenger's side staring directly ahead at the
road. Finally, when we reached our destinations I witnessed a shocking and
somewhat painful moment that I don't ever care to relive again.
Sara unbuckled her seat belt and when she tried to open the door she lost
it. Her head dropped in her awaiting hands and she began to sob. I
sat there in a daze, just staring at the co-worker who showed no
emotion. I was pleased but at the same time overtaken by pain myself.
To see her in this kind of condition was not what I meant by wanting
her to open up. So I did the only thing I could think of. I casually
unlatched my seat belt and slid over to where she was falling apart.
I then proceeded to lay her head on my shoulder and just let her cry.

I must have sat there for over ten minutes just gently rocking and
soothing her. I was almost starting to enjoy it and then she broke
our contact. I felt her body's absents almost immediately. The
loss of heat and the desire of wanting more left me with the wish that she
would start to break down again so I could resume my holding her. It
would have been the perfect excuse to be near her; but unfortunately,
she had other plans. I sat there and watched blankly as she exited
the car. She headed into the bar and I soon followed. I was delighted
when she picked the booth in the furthest right corner. That was a
great place for us to truly be alone and get a change to know each
other.

Would you believe that we spent over two and a half hours talking?
Not just about what happened with Hank but about everything. We
discussed the first times in our lives. Everything from the
boyfriends we had to the friends we have now. We talked about
everybody at the office and about us. We also used this time to clear
the air. I forgave her for not being able to solve Eddie's case
and she forgave me for being such an ass to her when I knew deep down she
tried more then her best to solve the case. Oddly enough, I
didn't do much of the drinking, but Sara on the other hand downed about five
beers and was still going strong. And that's when it happened.

I was telling her about the first time I met Warwick and how I knew
instantly that we were going to be inseparable and then she asked me
something I never thought I would hear out of her mouth. Sara Sidle,
Miss tough girl asked me is she was my friend. I couldn't help
but be a little flattered, because the look in her eyes was so begging for
acceptance that I do believe it was one of the cutest things I have
ever seen in my entire life; and at the same time it was attractive
to me. I then felt myself moving closer towards her. I could still
sense her brown eyes upon me just waiting for me to give her the
answer she was looking for. And as my face reached her's, I could
almost feel the change in expressions. I didn't care, because a
small force was pulling me closer and closer to her exquisite lips that
were beckoning me; and in less then five seconds I was breathing the
same air as she was. Then she dropped her head back down towards the
table and I snapped out of my daze. I caught sight of what to me was
the most beautiful and obviously so un-interested women in the world.
Then it hit me like a hurricane go four hundred miles an hour, I just
tried to make a move on Sara. That's when I knew it was time to
take her home.

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

We arrived at her apartment around 1:00 pm and thankfully she was
pretty much out of it. I walked her up to her place and tucked her
into bed. If she only knew that thoughts I was thinking in my head
she might not have been so quick to fall asleep.

And suddenly there I was standing over her body. I couldn't help
but notice her stunningly gorgeous she was when she slept, so peaceful
and yet restless. If she only knew how much I wanted to crawl in next
to her make love to her she might not have done what she was about to
do.

I turned to walk out of the room and then I felt a hand reach out and
grab my arm. Then with the most beautiful words I think I ever heard,
she simply asked me to stay. After picking my jaw up off the ground I
realized I was being pulled into bed. As I reached the side of the
bed she lifted the covers and eased me in. I felt her shift her
position to allow me the ability to make myself more comfortable.
Then as I situated myself into a more desirable position I noticed
two familiar and more than welcome arms being brought up towards my
lower body and take me into a hug. I thought I was going to faint.
She scooted closer to fully wrap her arms around me and laid her head
on my shoulder. I could have sworn I was in heaven. She then placed a
gentle kiss on my cheek and said, "Thanks for staying."

Like I said I am not sure how it happened, but one thing's for sure I
am definitely not complaining!


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