A Forward:

One character that was introduced later in the CSI story showed a lot of promise, I thought. But after her first few appearances it was like the writers shelved her and only pulled her up when convienent. I always thought there was chemistry between her and Grissom; she was just different enough to intrigue him and those episodes were fun to watch. But she also seemed to connect to Brass well; in a very different sort of way. I think the show missed a golden opportunity with Sofia Curtis. So, I'm borrowing her and the others to try correct their mistake. We all know who created these characters and who owns the rights to them. We also know that without us, our heros would cease to exist; so they really belong to us

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Detective Sofia Curtis stood in the office doorway, watching the two most important men in her life; although they seemed to be totally unaware of their importance to her. They were replaying the last case over a drink; a ritual that they had developed over many years of working together. But they were more than collegues; they were very good friends. Good enough that one had entrusted the other with his own life or death just a year before. The other entrusted his life to his friend almost daily. They were about as different as any two human males could be and yet in many ways similiar. One was a scientist who depended on provable fact; the other was a detective that often operated on gut instinct. One was reticent, shy, and at first glance seemed humorless; the other was an 'in your face' kind of guy and full of quips and sarcasm. One seemed cold and uncaring; the other could be very warm and almost too caring. Those were the apparent differences. Honestly, they both were very dedicated, passionate, funny, caring, and yes, shy men. One other similarity was that they both had irresistable blue eyes; different shades, of course. But each knew how to use them to their advantage.

Not for the first time in the last couple of years, she wondered how in the world she could be so helplessly in love with both of them. But she was. Not that she would do anything about it. If either thought for one minute that the other had any interest in her, they'd disappear and leave the way clear for his friend. Besides she suspected that it would shock them both to know how she felt about them.

Jim Brass looked up and saw her in the doorway. "Hey, Sofie. Come join us."

Grissom turned in his chair and smiled at her. She loved it when he smiled. Edging her way in, Jim pulled out another glass and handed it to her as Grissom pulled a chair in for her. The three of them sat, reviewing the case awhile longer. Finally, and not a little surprising, Grissom suggested they get away from work and go over to Grumpy's Bar for another round. They liked Grumpy's because it wasn't a tourist kind of place. Thirty minutes later they were settled into a booth at Grumpy's.

"So Sophie, got the next couple of days off?" asked Jim.

"Yeah. Two days in a row. I wonder who arranged that?" Gil chimed in, winking at Brass.

She hadn't had two consecutive days in three months and had been really excited when they showed up on her schedule. "You did that for me, Jim?"

"Figured you were overdue."

"So what about you guys? You have the weekend too?"

Grissom nodded in the affirmative as he sipped his beer. Jim winked, "Yeah, I was due too."

"Sofia, what are you planning for your whole two days?" asked Gil.

"Haven't really decided. Maybe just sleep."

"Beautiful girl like you with two whole days in Vegas and all you can think of to do is sleep?" Jim chided.

"Well, it's not a bad plan if you know who to sleep with."

Grissom spewed the sip of beer he'd just taken. Brass's jaw dropped; something Sofia had never seen him do before.

"Know any good prospects for me?' she asked playfully.

Both men looked stunned. They glanced at each other and started laughing. Brass spoke up, "I know plenty of volunteers but I wouldn't reccommend any of them."

Grissom was eyeing her curiously. She knew that often he didn't quite know what to think of her and she liked that. There were very few puzzles he couldn't solve eventually and she was enjoying the effort of being one of the few. They finished their drinks and headed out, each to their own homes.

As Sofia drove to her place she remembered the first time she'd met Jim. She was a CSI then and had been assigned to one of his cases. He'd been gruff with her. It wasn't until later that she discovered that he was enough of a gentleman of the old school that he didn't think women should be witness to the absolute worst humanity had to offer. And this case was especially bad. He'd gotten used to women at gruesome crime scenes, but he didn't like it. Gruffness was his way of dealing with it. She had quickly become his favorite CSI on the day shift and he requested her more and more. He'd told her that she was the only one on day shift that knew what he or she was doing.

The night she met Grissom was one of her favorite memories. He was in a tux becasue he was suppossed to give a speech at Ecklie's promotion dinner. But he'd gotten called away and left 'the speech' with Catherine. Sofia had been called as well and met him at the scene. He hadn't recognized her at first. But she recognized him. She's always thought he was a very handsome man but in that tux; well, he looked delicious. She thought about his expressiona as he tried not to notice her slipping into coveralls and out of her evening dress. She'd told him that at least she was still weraing underwear...as far as he knew. What she would have given to have a picture of his expression then. She'd wanted to jump him right there.

But that was then. They had flirted with each other off and on but it never seemed to go anywhere. From what she gathered Grissom never went anywhere with any woman. Jim, on the other hand, had been her anchor when the whole friendly fire episode with Bell happened. He been there by her side when all the others thought it was her bullet that brought the rookie down and had shunned her. He'd given her the care and kindness that no one offered him when it was revealed that it had been his bullet. Sofia had tried to comfort him as he had done for her. But he seemed determined to carry the load on his own. Not many would have had the courage to show up at Bell's wake. She knew she couldn't have done it. But Brass was there, ready to take anything the widow wanted to say to him Instead, she had hugged him in front of everyone. Her forgiveness had almost undone Jim. That was the last thing he expected. Sofia knew that he still didn't understand how Mrs. Bell could forgive him like that

Yeah, they were two very special men and she wanted them both. She wondered what they thought about her. She knew they liked her, as a friend. But did either of them think of her the way she thought of them?

She parked her car in her drive and checked her mail before entering her house. Walking to the cabinet that she stocked as a bar, she pulled out a bottle and poured another drink; a rather hefty one.If she was destined to sleep alone, then she was damned well sure she would sleep. Kicking off her shoes she nestled into her favorite chair, images of her two guys running through her mind. After about her third refill her images were getting pretty blurry. It was about then that she hatched her plot.