Hey, this isn't my usual thing but I thought I'd give it a try since this plot bunny has been niggling at me for quite some time now. Let me know what you think.

For those of you who are new to me and my stories Carmen Devine is my OC from the Devine Series, and Sam is Browneyedgirl75's brilliant creation. The two are close in both of our stories, but I decided to push the boundaries a little and see what would happen if these two decided it was time to get a little closer.

Chapter One

There's a girl that you might know
She's a friend at least I tell you so
But it might surprise you to find
There's something going on behind the door

Ditty Bops – There's a Girl

The Crime Lab was quiet. A rarity these days. It was summer and the crazies were out in full force with renewed vigour. The Crime lab was stretched to its limit with people ducking in and out of it rushing through two or three cases at once in attempt to shut down the growing scourge of crime.

The Trace Lab was her domain today, no waiting in a queue for other people to finish off with the Mass Spec, she relished it. It meant there was some form of serenity in the Crime Lab. A peacefulness that had been absent for weeks now.

Carmen placed the samples in the machine and pressed the button to start the analysis, letting her thoughts drift as she waited on the results at hand. She hadn't been able to do that in a while, work had been busy and her private life…Well safe to say that had become a mess that she was still battling through.

As usual as of late Sam was never far from her thoughts. The two women had become close since the other CSI had moved to New York. They'd spent some wild nights dancing and drinking down at some of the popular bars. Carmen felt at home with Sam. They confided in each other a lot and had somewhat become best friends over the last year.

So it was understandable that Carmen would be thinking about her, just not in the way she actually was. Some time Carmen found herself staring at Sam in a whole new light, one that she herself didn't find that she was very comfortable with.

Everyone fantasized in work. It was impossible not to with all the potential eye candy walking around. When you had guys like Danny, Flack, Hawkes and even Adam walking around you were bound to find yourself a little hot under the collar. Especially when you hadn't been laid in a very long time. It wasn't just her; she knew that other people did it as well. In fact she'd heard Lindsey telling Stella she wouldn't mind dragging Danny into a janitor's closet every now and then for a little one on one action.

The problem was Carmen was pretty sure that no one in the Crime Lab had fantasized over a person of the same sex. She also knew if Danny ever got hold of this little tidbit she would never be able to live it down. She had tried to stop, really she had, but the problem was she couldn't get Samantha Ross out of her head.

This had all started because of a Snoopy bra.

They'd been called out to a Crime Scene in Queen's a little under a month ago. It was mid June and the sun was beaming down on the two of them as they strode across the street and ducked under the Crime Scene tape, both clad in sunglasses, Sam in her usual Paris Hilton style and Carmen in Dolce and Gabbana. She didn't usually divulge in designer sunglasses but Sam had insisted on their latest shopping trip and she had to admit the girl had taste.

It was a regular summer's day in New York. Hot, humid and sticky and the two of them had left their coats in the SUV. Sam had been wearing a white sleeveless, eyelet blouse over black suit pants. They showed every curve of her well toned body and Carmen couldn't help but notice the way the uniform checked the other girl out. She didn't realize that the jealousy she'd felt at the time hadn't been directed at Sam, but because of her. Or rather because of how she felt about Sam.

The truth was she knew she had feelings; there was something so sensual about the other woman that made Carmen erupt in hot flushes at the mere thought of her sometimes. There were times in her head where it went a lot further than a simple thought.

They'd been at that scene for two hours before they exited the building faced with torrential downpour. A freak storm had hit and now they were stranded and the only thing they could do was cover the evidence and rush to the SUV. They were drenched in the brief few moments it took to get to the vehicle and than both girls had literally thrown themselves into the car, dripping wet, lank hair hanging over their faces and their clothes soaked through.

Sam had reached over and flicked the heating on but it wasn't the blast of warm air that was making Carmen all hot and bothered. It was the fact Sam's shirt had suddenly turned transparent in the rain water. The blouse clung to Sam like a second skin, empathising every aspect of her ample feminine beauty. There was nothing hidden from Carmen's prying eyes and she could see the smooth lacy underside of the bra before her eyes strayed to a little picture of Snoopy etched on to the bra, and then down Sam's slim stomach and down to her navel, her eyes fell on the daring, silver piercing.

She imaged teasing that little silver ring with her tongue; eyes rose upwards taking in Sam's reaction…

Ever since that moment, Carmen had started to notice a handful of little things about Sam. Like how her hips swayed to the beat of the music as she worked her way through a stack of reports Mac had handed her. Or how suggestive it really was when Sam wiped the excess lip gloss from her lip line with the tip of her finger. It just sent chills right through Carmen, her skin flushed at the sexiness that emitted from the tiny brunette goddess.

Carmen had never thought of herself as gay, of course she had experimented through college with a few other girls, and then once more after the academy. There was something so beautiful and understanding about being with another woman. Even though it had always been about sex for her, she still felt some sort of emotional connection to any woman that she'd been with. There was no awkward morning after, just a mutual friendly parting. One of her previous "experiments" had even offered to make her breakfast one morning, which she had politely turned down. But it was that kind of thoughtfulness that Carmen admired in women.

The Mass Spec beeped suddenly, startling Carmen out of her thoughts. She took a deep breath, hand on her chest to calm her racing heart. She hated being surprised like that. She raised her eyes and then froze at the sight in front of her.

Sam Ross was in the room next door, the lay out room. She was bent over picking something up off the floor, Carmen couldn't focus on what it was only on the fact her shirt was raising up above her trouser line, revealing those sexy little lotus flowers etched on the bottom of her back. Just under that the lacy black band of her thong peeked over the hem of her trousers.

Carmen bit her lip and closed her eyes momentarily, imagining what it must feel like to peel that tiny piece of underwear off of Sam and slide it down her perfectly toned thighs.

"If I'd known you had a crush on Sam I wouldn't feel so bad about you turning me down every once in a while."

"Get your mind off your dirty little fantasies Flack." Carmen returned, opening her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest.

Detective Don Flack was leaning in the doorway, his eyes on the auburn haired CSI as she quickly gathered up the results from the Mass Spec. Her cheeks were flushed and tinged with red, leading him to believe that he'd caught her doing something red handed, and the only thing she had been doing was staring at Sam Ross through the window pane of the Crime Lab.

"I'm not fantasizing, Sam's gay." He stated with a shrug.

Carmen snorted.

"I think that would have come up in conversation at some point." Carmen reminded him, leaning over the table and sifting through the results.

"A lot of guys have tried and failed." Flack pointed out.

"Just because she turned down you and Danny doesn't mean she's gay." She pointed out.

Flack crossed his arms over his chest studying the younger woman for a second.

"You look flustered." He commented with a warm smile.

Carmen was one of his close friends; her arrival here two years ago had ruffled a lot of feathers amongst everyone in CSI. She was determined, dedicated and she worked over puzzles like they were games, she never stopped until she had a reason or an answer. She could hold her own and that slender Portland girl had a mouth and a temper on her. Above all she was compassionate and it was her tenderness and ability to relate to a victim that really endeared her to him. She had a past, he knew that. They'd spent nights up alone together talking things over both on his side and on hers, and he found himself confiding in her things he had barely told anyone.

In the earlier days he mistook her friendship for attraction, she was his ideal woman, the missing piece that was supposed to fit, he'd never been able to actually talk to a woman the way he spoke to her. After she'd turned him down multiple times for dates and an attempted kiss, he'd finally snapped and had to ask the question that had been plaguing his mind for so god damn long.

Why didn't she want him?

He had plenty offers, women threw themselves at him with a flash of that boyish smile and those baby blue eyes but she never fell for them and he forced himself to ask why.

Carmen looked genuinely surprised when he'd asked that question. How could something be wrong with him? He was the perfect gentleman, he was funny, witty, and handsome and he was a cop, she'd told him. It wasn't his fault, it was hers. She didn't trust men in that department. She'd had a bad marriage; he'd seen the scars and heard the story. She couldn't trust herself in relationship again, her trust had been shattered by the man she loved, a man who had tried to kill her.

Flack understood, more than anyone, he knew was like to be betrayed by someone you loved, he understood her inability to let go and it saddened him. Carmen was a wonderful person with a good heart and he hated the idea that she may end up completely on her own, or a crazy cat lady.

Which why he was happy when he'd noticed Carmen taking an interest in Sam. Sam was fun, she was caring and sensitive but above all she was tough, and she stuck to her guns in the face of a challenge.

Flack was pretty sure that Sam was gay. It wasn't about the fact she didn't date cops or the fact he'd see her out with a few girls from time to time when he knew she was supposed to be on a date. So he'd pieced the clues together. He'd never asked her outright, because it was none of his business. Sam dated who she dated and that was up to her.

Lately though he'd noticed her taking an interest in Carmen. Sam and her had always been close, ever since Sam had transferred but this was different. There was something more in her gaze when she looked at the other woman, a different light in her eyes. There was a tenderness when she touched Carmen, more than there had been before. She was gentler, and her face lit up when she was around the auburn haired CSI.

The two were good for each other, in more ways than one. The problem was waiting for one of them to make the first move.

The comfortable silence was interrupted by the door next to him erupting open, and he turned to see Sam standing there, her straying from him to Carmen almost impatiently.

"Hey, are we still up for the club tonight?" Sam asked, looking eager.

Carmen pushed a stray strand of hair away from her face before looking up from her paperwork.

"My case has practically solved itself according to these results so I'm game." She informed them waving the paper up in the air.

Sam's smile curved across her features, as she nodded her response to Carmen's words enthusiastically. Flack watched her retreating back, Sam's hips swaying like a model on a run way as she strode down the corridor.

He turned his attention back to Carmen who was peering around him watching Sam leave, he could tell she was checking out Sam's ass a mile away and he was surprised that the thought didn't shock him more.

The truth was no matter what these two chose to do he was always going to have their backs.