Author's note: This is my first fic ever! No beta, but I reread it several times so hopefully it's ok. Please review, I'm anxious to hear what people think!
Disclaimer: CSI and all it's characters belong to CBS. Song mentioned in chapter 9 is "Do You Wanna Touch?" by Joan Jett, also not mine.
It wasn't going to stop raining anytime soon. Sara had resided herself to this fact; unfortunately for her, she wasn't behind the wheel. And Catherine seemed bound and determined to make it back to Vegas tonight, despite the storm.
"Cat… I really think you should pull over," Sara suggested gingerly, knowing Catherine was already on edge.
If there was ever a time the phrase "pouring buckets" was appropriate, it was now. The way the rain was coming down, it was as though someone were literally pouring a perpetual bucket of water over the windshield. The wiper blades, on full speed, were doing little to appease the lack of visibility.
"And what, hang out on the side of the road all night?" Catherine spat.
"That, or end up on the wrong end of an investigation when we roll into a ditch," Sara shot back.
Catherine didn't retort, but Sara noticed the annoyed pout on her face.
"C'mon Cath! You can't see for shit right now! Look," Sara said pointing to a faint red glow showing through the rain, "Motel."
They might have missed it had the motel not sported the neon sign, alternately reading "motel" and "mote," as the L flickered on and off. Odds were it wasn't going to be the classiest of places, but certainly better than the ditch, Sara thought.
"Cat-"
"Fine, fine," Catherine finally caved, and pulled into the parking lot. As she put the car in park, both women paused, stalling a moment before running out into the rain.
"Ready?" Catherine asked with a slight smirk, already less edgy now that she wasn't driving blind.
Sara chuckled, "Ready."
"Go!" Catherine yelled as they leapt from the Denali, followed by a shriek as she landed in a puddle, the buckets of water now falling on their heads. Sara couldn't help but laugh, at the ridiculousness of the situation, and the way Catherine tried to cover her head with her arms, as though she could possibly keep any dryer by doing so.
It only took seconds to reach the lobby of the motel, but by the time they were safely inside they couldn't have been more soaked if they'd been thrown into the swimming pool. Catherine stood still, eyes wide and mouth agape, as though she couldn't believe what just happened. Sara suppressed the urge to laugh at the priceless expression, it was too adorable. Adorable? Really? Sara wondered. But the thought was quickly forgotten when their eyes met and her laughter came pouring out. Coming out of her apparent shock, Catherine couldn't help but laugh along.
"Not really a night to be out driving around," stated the man behind the desk.
"You're telling me!" Catherine replied, "Think you can provide us with some shelter from this storm?" she added in her usual seductive-Catherine tone.
"Your lucky night," the man replied, "got one vacancy left,"
"Guess we'll be spending some quality time together tonight," Catherine whispered to Sara, who blushed slightly as that same seductive tone was now directed at her. "On the crime lab's tab of course." Luckily, Catherine's attention went back to booking the room before she could notice Sara's rosy face.
What is going on with me tonight? Sara wondered, feeling her cheeks burn.