Title: Realisations Of A Hangover 1?
Author: neo-chef
Pairing: Catherine/Sara
Rating: PG for now later on who knows…
Spoilers: anything is fair game
Archive: let me know and it can go anywhere
Disclaimer: If they were mine, I wouldn't have the time or the energy to write about them…
A.N. This is my second attempt at CSI fan fiction after "Jet Lag". This idea came to me at work yesterday so I figured I would put pen to paper or finger to keyboard as the case may be. Enjoy
Read and Review please...
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Why is a jazz band playing at full volume inside my head?
Trying to sit up, the intense wave of nausea quickly reminded the young CSI that it was a bad idea. Squinting, she tried to see where she was. Looking up the cream coloured ceiling she quickly realised that this wasn't her room. Momentary panic set in as she tried to replay the previous night in her head.
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Given a rare night off the CSIs of the graveyard shift of the Las Vegas Crime Lab had decided to throw a Christmas-In-July party. Given the scorching temperatures outside, most couldn't think of a better way to spend the night than sharing a few drinks in the air-conditioned comfort of the lab. Gathering in the break room Nick and Warrick were fighting it out over an epic battle on their Playstation. Greg was eagerly watching on and trying to take bets from the rest of the assembled party.
"Touchdown," yelled Warrick as he stood up and threw the controller down on the couch. "Victory is once again mine." His victory dance took him over to the fridge as he grabbed a fresh beer. "Better luck next time Nicky."
"Damn it," exclaimed Nick as he followed his friend over to the drinks. Holding out the crisp twenty-dollar note, Warrick delicately plucked it from his fingers as he danced on. "Quit rubbing it in War, I know why you keep playing me at that game. I haven't beaten you in weeks."
"Then you should know better than to put a twenty on it then," laughed Warrick.
"Haha, very funny," replied Nick as he flicked his bottle cap at Warrick.
Before it could reach its intended target a hand pinched it from mid air. "Play nice boys." Catherine breezed into the break room grabbing a beer as she flicked the bottle cap back at Nick. The cap bounced of Nick's forehead earning Catherine a superior smile. "Who are we missing?" questioned Catherine as she opened her own beer and flopped down onto the couch.
"Everyone is here, more or less, except Sara. She hasn't shown up yet," replied Greg as he looked over the nightshift crew in the break room.
"But she is coming, isn't she?"
"Supposed to be, probably just running late."
Catherine was hopping that her question didn't give her want for Sara away to her colleagues. While not great friends, she held a lot of respect for Sara and wished she could get under Sara's skin without the end result being one of the infamous arguments. Catherine had realised over the last few months that her feelings for her younger partner had changed since their first meeting six years ago.
As if on cue, long legs clad in skin tight leather pants strode into the break room. These also brought with them the stunning body of Sara Sidle. "Evening all," exclaimed Sara as she opened her first beer.
"Wow Sara, did you have to paint those pants on," asked Greg as he reached out to touch Sara's left leg. A slap on the hand and a smile from Sara was his answer as she moved to sit on the couch next to Catherine.
"Yeah your looking good girl," complimented Warrick as he 'cheers'ed with Sara. The 'clink' from the bottles dislodged a few drops of condensation, allowing them to fall onto Sara's knee. Sara watched as Catherine's hand reached out and brushed off the water droplets, feeling the gentle squeeze on her knee before the hand pulled back. Sara's heart fluttered at the innocent contact between the two women. Sara had worn these pants just for Catherine and she was glad that they were noticed.
"Those pants look great on you Sara," praised Catherine. A full gap-toothed Sidle smile was her reward making Catherine's heart beat that little bit faster.
"Thanks Cat," momentarily not realising she had used Cath's detested nickname, but when Cath didn't say anything she pressed on. "You look great too," commenting to the ocean blue blouse and black slacks combo the Catherine was wearing.
The drinks flowed as the CSI's talked amongst each other, sharing stories, glad to not have to talk about work too much. Lab techs stopped in from time to time to say hi and have something non-alcoholic. Even Doc Robbins stopped in for a chat, using a slow night in the morgue as an excuse to visit.
Sara's eyes followed Catherine around the room, marvelling at the way she effortlessly floated from one conversation to another.
"Hello, earth to Sara." Greg's hands waving in front of her face dragged Sara back to the present. "You ok there Sar, you've been quiet all night?"
"Sorry Greg, just a little distracted tonight."
"Would it have anything to do with a certain blonde CSI?"
Sara turned quickly to look incredulously at Greg, trying to stop the blush slowly creeping up her neck. "Greg your fantasy world is getting the better of you again," said Sara, trying to dissuade the junior CSI from whatever ideas he had.
"Come on Sara, I've seen you all night, you've been watching Cath walk around the room all night. I may have been in the field for a little while but I've been in this lab for a lot longer. I see and hear things from around here. I see how you watch Cath and I see how she watches you too," replied Greg with a smirk on his face.
"What?"
"Its ok if you have feelings for her Sara, I may be a little crushed but I will get over my broken heart in a few years," answered Greg, his hand over his heart for dramatic effect.
Sara's mind was racing. If Greg could see her feelings for Catherine, have the others noticed too? Greg had always been interested in Sara though so maybe it was due his overt watching of her. Sara grabbed Greg by the arm and dragged him from the break room heading for the solitude of the locker room.
"Look Greg, I umm… well it's like this… you see." Sara stuttered, while pacing nervously around the room, trying to find a way to say it without hurting Greg. He had always been good to her and she didn't want to cause him unnecessary pain.
Greg raised his hand to silence her. "It's alright Sar. I kind of knew we would never be together. I may not have liked it but I'm your friend and I'm there for you. And before you ask, I haven't told anyone else and I'm not going to. I know you value your privacy and I wouldn't betray a friend like that." He stepped forward and placed his had on her arm to stop her from wearing a trail in the tiles. "If Catherine is the one to make you happy then I'm ok with that. She watches you too Sara, when you're not looking. Its been going on for a while now. Probably longer than you think."
Greg seemed to mature before her eyes. She had expected him to make bad jokes about them getting it on or ask if he could videotape it. She wrapped her arms around him in a tender hug. "Thanks Greg, it means a lot to me."
"Anytime Sara."
"Hey you guys ok in here?" Catherine's brow creased momentarily seeing the embracing CSI's.
"Yeah Cath, just had to talk something over with Greggo here," replied the brunette CSI while ruffling Greg's already messy hair.
"Ok well the guys want to head out hit a few bars now, you two interested?"
Not passing up the chance to spend more time with Catherine, a quick nod from Sara and she practically dragged Greg out of the locker room.
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Slowly waking up, she looked around the room, searching for clues to where she might be. She turned to see she was alone in the bed, the slight scent of vanilla lingered on the pillow. Her sleep-addled brain couldn't place the smell as her eyes roved around the room hunting for evidence of her location. Looking to the bedside table, she spied a silver picture frame. Encased in the mirror-like frame was a picture of Lindsay Willows.
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TBC…
A.N. Originally intended to be a single piece. My overactive imagination added more detail than I thought.
