Title: Getting To Know You
Author: cjacsifan
Pairing: Catherine/Riley
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: CSI is owned by CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer
Summary: Catherine and Riley get to know more about each other over breakfast.
Spoilers: Some throughout the run of the show...Too many to list here

Catherine was finishing up her paperwork on her case as Riley walks by her office, "Hey Riley, you got a minute?"

"Sure Catherine what can I do for you?"

"I was just wondering of you want to head for breakfast at this little diner I pass on my way home."

"I'd like that, do you want me to check if the guys want to join us."

"Nah, it's nice talking with the guys but being around them most of the time here at work, whenever we do go out as a group we either talk shop or sports ...neither of which I find particularly interesting  to talk about over breakfast...besides this will be my way of thanking you for helping me out in the locker room a few weeks back," Catherine answers with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Thanks Catherine, I appreciate it....but what are friends for, just let me go to the locker room and get my things and I'll meet you back here in about 5 minutes."

"Great, that'll give me time to clear up this mess called a desk."

Five minutes later Catherine and Riley are headed for the parking lot, "How about I drive or would you rather just follow me?"

"I'll follow you this way you can we can each head home after without you having to drive back this way to drop me off to pick up my Jeep."

"No sweat, I'll drive slow so you can follow miss newbie, " Catherine says kiddingly.

"Real funny Catherine," Riley retorts as she gives her 'Raspberries', the two women giggle at the gesture and go to their respective vehicles.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ten minutes later they are pulling up to a small place called The Desert Rose Diner, "Nice little place you got here Catherine, come here often?"

"Most mornings I just head for home and make a bite of something or other for myself but when I'm really hungry or just don't feel up to cooking I'm usually here...and by the way Miss Adams were you coming on to me with that come here often line."

Riley stopped dead in her tracks hoping she hadn't offended her new friend, but once Catherine unsuccessfully tried to hold in a laugh she realized it was a joke, "Gee Catherine you had me scared for a minute."

"No worries and by the way after work it's Cath or Cat."

"Thanks Cather...Cath." Riley smiled knowing she was starting to be accepted by her co-workers.

The two women were seated and ordered from the menu; Mushroom omlete for Catherine, Buttermilk French Toast with Bacon for Riley.

As the two women waited Catherine asked Riley to tell her about herself, "Well Cath as I said I am from Salt Lake City, Utah born and bred...my folks are missionaries for the Mormon Church so I don't talk to them much because they are always going overseas to some poor, small country...I do however e-mail them alot so we try to keep in touch....As for my personal stuff my full name is Riley Christina Adams, named for my paternal grandfather and maternal grandmother..."

"Why your grandfather's name as a first name?"

"Well dad thought as all dads do I was going to be a boy...My name was supposed to be Riley Steven Adams, both grand dad's names... boy was my dad shocked when the nurse told him I was a girl, " at this both women ended laughing and almost spilling their coffee. "I had the normal childhood, but as I got older and got to high school age I felt closer to girls then boys, dad and mom thought it was a phase but I thankfully it wasn't....well, during my senior at high school I met the woman of my dreams Elyse Moore she was beautiful, jet balck hair, green eyes..." Catherine noticed Riley was tearing up.

"Is that the girlfriend you told me about?"

"Yes it was, well I told my parents about my feelings for her, and they were really upset, but I told them I was 18 years old and it was my life and they had no say in the matter, the only problem was that Utah frowns upon same sex relationships so I ended up leaving home and going to Southern Montana University and Elyse came with me...God we were so happy until that night...." Riley started crying and Catherine switched from the side of the booth she was sitting in to the side where Rileywas and comforted her until the tears subsided, then went back to her side of the booth.

"What happend that night?"

Riley continued as best she could, "Well Elyse and I had just gotten out of a movie and were walking home when the car that hit her ran a red light and hit her...she was DOA at the hospital, and the worst part was the driver was never caught, that is when I changed my major from English to Science and I became a CSI because of that, I worked in Billings for awhile after graduating, then back in my hometown, then here to Las Vegas....so what about you Cath?"

"Believe it or not I was born in Montana,  the northern part of the state...then I fell in love with a musician after high school, but the schmuck left me for another woman....I found my way here to Vegas, became an exotic dancer..." that got Riley's attention.

"No wonder the guys drool over you when we are in the field," Riley joked.

"Cute...real cute..."Catherine tried to look angry but smiled at the joke,"  "Well while dancing I got to be friends with a cop and he and I would talk cases and it really interested me, besides I was thinking of leaving that business because I had gotten married and was pregnant with my daughter Lindsey who is 15 going on 25 this year.... anyway getting back to the story I went to school at WLVU got my degree and here I am."

By the time Catherine was finished with her story,breakfast came so the two women began eating and chatting through the bites.  "So you still married?"

"No my marrriage wasn't really a happy one, my late husband was always trying to get in on the ground floor in get rich quick ideas, even buying a recording studio but he got killed and the bastard was killed after he left my daughter in a ditch during a storm to see latest star, after he died I had a few other relationships always hoping to hook up with Warrick but it never happend."

Riley noticed Catherine was near tears and rubbed he hand and said everything would be okay, "How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make me feel good ," Catherine then realized what she said and blushed, she then tried to explain by 'feel good' she meant happy

"Don't worry Cath, I know what you meant besides you make me feel good too especially after our talks."

By this time, breakfast was over and the bill was paid for, the two women exited the diner, hugged, kissed each other on the cheek, "Sweet dreams Riley"

"You too Cath."

The two women got into their own vehicles and drove home, both very tired but very happy they got the chance to get to know each other better.