Summary: Catherine joins Gil when she finds him stargazing.

Rating: Trainee

Notes: Just a lil' ficlet that came to me when my dad mentioned that we could see Mars and Venus tonight. Not that I really know why that inspired me, but it did. I don't know; maybe I'm just strange. :)

Disclaimer: I wish! And that's as close as I will ever come.

--Underneath the Stars--

"What are you doing?" Catherine asked in a hushed voice, walking up to her supervisor and friend who stood staring up at the night sky.

"Shhh."

Grissom didn't even turn his head as she came up beside him.

She stepped in a little closer to him for warmth. It was below freezing outside, and her jacket was not very warm. Shoulders touching, the gazed up at the night sky, dotted with small gleams of light placed randomly throughout the inky darkness. The view was breathtaking, more beautiful than even the most talented artist could possibly capture. The sky was devoid of a single cloud to destroy their perfect view of the stars, and the crisp, clear coldness of the night seemed to accentuate the breathtaking brilliance of the vast night sky.

"Beautiful."

Catherine could only nod, caught up in the wonder of it all, as he had been when she came outside looking for him; and as he still was.

She had never thought of star-gazing as 'her kind of thing,' but it was...addicting somehow. And the man standing beside her was making it even more enjoyable.

Catherine took a chance, stepping closer and nestling her head on his shoulder. Her gaze remained on the stars, but mentally, she was only paying attention to what his reaction might be.

Surprisingly, there wasn't one. At least not the one that she was expecting. He simply stood there, accepting her as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His arm came up around her shoulders, but not a word was uttered.

They simply stood there, soaking up the beauty and wondering about this unspoken turn their relationship had just taken.

Just Catherine and Gil, standing there underneath the millions of twinkling stars shining down on them.

fin