Gil got out of his dark Tahoe and walked towards the scene of the crime that the rest of his team had been processing without him. This time it was a well-manicured home in the suburbs. In the yard, Warrick, Nick, and Sara stood surveying the area through their dark sunglasses with their arms crossed. He smirked, copmaring them silently in their stances to those of members of The Rat Pack, and then he approached them. "Hey guys, where's Catherine?"
"Still in the garden," Warrick answered. "The bullet hasn't been found yet."
Sara muttered: "We've all sensibly given up."
Nick added: "But, you know Cath."
Gil nodded, chuckling softly. "Yeah, I do." He glanced at the setting sun and knew it was time to head out for the day. "I'm going to go rescue her." After waving them off, he walking into the backyard. Beyond the Ivy covered fence, Catherine was bent over, studying a rose bush. After admiring the view before him, he walked up to her quietly and before he could control himself, he put his hands on her hips to tell her he was there.
Shocked, she shrieked and jumped back into him. Before he regained his balance, he felt heat rush through his body at the contact. They fell down together in a heap. Gil started laughing as he watched her untangle her amd and legs from him. "What were you doing?" He asked her as she straightened herself up.
She smiled and shrugged, after helping him to his feet. "I was Just Looking for the bullet."
"It's the end of shift, Cath. Why don't you go home?"
"I want to find this bullet."
"What about Lindsay?"
She answered: "Sis has her for the whole weekend. She and her husband, Ryan, took Jeremy to Lake Mead, and he wanted to take his Cousins." She flashed him one of her signature grins that made his knees weak. "So, I'm free to stay here and figure out this Conundrum."
He sighed, knowing how determined she could be when the mood struck her. "What do you have so far?"
She shrugged. "Seems like a Perfect Murder, Perfect Town sort of scene."
He countered: "You'll get it. It always seems that way Through the Eyes of a Killer, but you'll find a way to see it."
"I hope so," she replied softly.
"Let's take a break."
She put a hand on his arm. "What do you suggest, boss?"
He managed a smile, despite the flutterings in his stomach. "How about breakfast?"
"Sounds wonderful. My place or yours?"
~*~
"Look," she argued over her usual screwdriver, while he cooked eggs and ham on the stove. "The Skulls found in the treehouse are an indication that those people were definitely Fallen Angels." She huffed. "I mean, she might look good on paper, and he looks great on paper, which means he's The Contender for Man of the Year or something cheesy like that." She saw his expression darken and wondered why he looked cranky. Briefly thinking it was jealousy, she added: "That's not a good thing, Gil. That means only one thing."
His expression lightened a little. "And what's that, Cath?"
"When Love Kills—"
"Cath, it's completely possible that the skulls have nothing to do with this shooting accident."
She huffed again. "There's that word again. Accident." She set her glass down and added a little more vodka, despite Gil's disapproving gaze. She knew he didn't like it when she had too much to drink, but he would never say it. With him, she knew she was safe, and it felt like the best time to lose herself. Although, she knew that if he kept looking at her, neither of them would be safe. He was a different Species of male, and maybe that was why she was so attracted to him. However, her hidden feelings for her boss and longtime friend wouldn't prevent her from expressing her point of view. "He's one of the Bad Boys, Gil. I just need that bullet to prove it."
He nodded and smiled. "Alright. Until we find the bullet—if we find the bullet—I won't say a word."
"Thanks."
"How's Ryan?"
She felt her cheeks heat up. "Gil, I..." She didn't know how to tell him the relationship hadn't worked. He had told her that he didn't think Ryan O'Neal was the best match for her, but she didn't like him commenting on her extracirricular activities like he had chosen to. "We didn't work out."
"Told you." When he looked up and met her eyes, he softened. "I am sorry to hear that, Cath. But, you can do much better."
She hoped he was talking about himself. It had been Ryan's Hope that she would smarten up and realize that she wanted him back. He had been disappointed, and tried to convince her several times, but she turned his many offers down.
"I know," she nodded with a sad smile, after sipping her drink.
He changed the subject again. "Drunk yet?"
"Gil Grissom, are you waiting for the perfect opportunity to take advantage of me like I want you to?"
She covered her mouth with her hand, not believing what words fell from her lips, waiting for his response.
~*~
After she covered her mouth, Gil watched her carefully. He had always liked to think of himself as Inflammable, but he knew it wasn't true; Catherine always had an effect on him—especially when she was looking at him the way she was at that moment. Like a Manhunter. Even though there was shock in her expression, he could make out what he thought was desire, and it made him nervous.
"Cath?"
She turned away, taking her glass with her. She got up and walked to the living room, where she flopped onto his leather sofa, her face becoming unreadable. "Cath?" The eggs were done, but he didn't feel like eating, and he didn't think she did either. He set the pan off the burner and headed towards her. "Cath?"
"I'm sorry," she muttered. "I shouldn't have said that."
"Why not?" He sat down next to her, letting his leg touch hers. He set her drink down after easing it from her hand, and then he cupped her face in his other hand. "We're Partners, Cath. Please talk to me."
She shook her head, and managed to pry herself away from him. He watched her jump up and stand in front of one of his windows. He sighed and went after her, knowing that this was the moment where everything could change. He knew the change would be for the better, but he had to think of a way to prove it to her.
He eased himself behind her, so their bodies were touching as much as possible. He heard a small sigh escape her lips, and when he put his hand on her waist—shaking at first but soon growing more confident—the sigh turned into a groan. When he put his lips to the base of her neck, she shuddered and groaned again.
"This is what you want?" Without turning around, she nodded. He felt the desire pumping through his veins, while his blood travelled to a more southern location in his body. "What are you afraid of?"
"Who said I'm afraid?"
"Cath..."
She sighed and turned to face him. He saw how dark her blue eyes were, where the storm began to brew, and how warm she was. He enjoyed the thrill of knowing he put that look on her face. "It's just a traditional "Will this ruin what we've got" Fear."
"So," he responded. "No Fear, Cath. Simple as that."
"Yeah?" He nodded. She asked another question: "How are you so confident?"
He shrugged. "I've Always felt this way. I guess, I've had a lot of time to think it over."
"And?"
"I think that it's worth pursuing."
She smiled. "Good. But—"
"No decisions will be made until..." he glanced at the clock behind him. "Until After Midnight."
He watched her grin, and sighed when he saw her relax. "So what are we going to do until then?"
"I hope I don't have to spell it out." He wrapped his arms around her and held her body close to his. One of his hands slipped up and cupped her cheek while he leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers. When he pulled back, she nodded, giving him access to all that he wanted. He was a little more agressive the second time he kissed her, and when her mouth opened, he took advantage, sweeping her mouth with his tongue.
He felt her shift her weight, and then her leg slipped up so that her knee rested on his hip, granting his body more access. He could feel the warmth radiating from her, generating some of his own.
"Bedroom," she whispered.
In one smooth movement, he gathered her up into his arms and headed for his bedroom. She chuckled: "Good thing we decided on your place. The Staircase at home would probably—"
"We'll try it tomorrow."
Catherine tossed her head back and laughed. "If you want to."
"I do."
Once he set her down in his room, any sensibilities either of them possessed were Long Gone. Their lips crashed together while they tried to remove each other's clothing. He felt The Beast course through his system, passion doing its best to set him on fire, and knew the night would be one of the best in his life.
~*~
When the Fire Down Below grew to be too much for either of them, they finished undressing and began the new chapter of their relationship on his bed. The entire experience had been a blur to her, she remembered that as she rode him The Cowboy Way he had taken to babbling. The phrases and words he used were Present Tense, Past Perfect, and they made her love him even more, fueling her desire for the man that had had her heart for at least a decade.
She felt as if she could Kiss The Sky, her mind and body were so disconnected, floating. He brought her to a state of mind she couldn't even begin to describe.
And after they both reached their climax, they colapsed together. Their bodies moving until they were comfortably wrapped up in each other, their Hearts on Fire, still.
She spoke first, the silence bothering her a little: "So, now what?"
He shrugged. "I dunno. How about 'In Sickness and In Health'—"
"Hard Promises to keep, Gil."
"How long have we been friends?"
Catherine knew he had a valid point. "Quanitifying it would only make us both feel very old."
"Good point," he chuckled, rubbing her arm that she draped over his chest lightly with a warm hand. She loved the feeling of his laugh in his chest, under her ear, combined with the light brushing of his warm fingers on her tingling limb. She loved everything about this moment, and she hoped it would never change. "Look," he said after kissing the top of her head. "All I know is that I thought my heart had Passed Away, until you came along." She felt tears welling up in her eyes. She never knew he could be so romantically eloquent. "I don't want to lose this, or feel like I'm going to lose what we have, for even a second."
"You... you've done so much for me, given me so much—"
"Keep the Change, or put it on my tab, or something," he chuckled. "What matters is we're together, in all senses of the word."
She sighed and kissed his chest, above his right nipple. He shuddered. "Yes, that's all that matters right now."
~*~
Gil woke up to hear his television murmuring. When he opened his eyes, he saw an empty room, lit up by the electric appliance opposite the bed. He could smell something wafting from the hall. Soon, Catherine appeared in the door.
"You're up," she smiled. "Good. Perfect timing."
"What is it?"
"Chinese," she blushed. "The eggs were cold and I can't cook anything." He chuckled, while she set the tray of food down on the bed. "I couldn't find your Keys so I had to pass the money to him through the window," he continued to laugh, this time with her. The image of passing a delivery order through a window made him laugh. "Next time, I'll just wake you up."
"So I can come down and watch this funny sight?"
She rolled her eyes, "No, silly, I—" She stopped talking as something on the television caught her eye. "Ohhhh wow! I haven't seen this one yet!"
"Cath?"
She turned back and looked at him. "China Beach." When he groaned, she added: "It's either that or Erin Brochovich."
"What about—"
"No Discovery Channel," As she said that, Gil leaned forward and kissed the secret spot on her neck, making her moan. "Okay, fine. Maybe for a little while. You owe me though."
He kissed her cheek and made more room for her. "Alright. After we rest a bit, and eat, I'll make it up to you."
She grinned, making the butterflies in his stomach flutter. "I have no doubt you will."
The End!
