Okay, the dialogue from the case belongs to the CSI writers. The thoughts between the dialogue belong to me. I didn't steal anything, just borrowed it. And since our only compensation comes in the form of reviews, I have nothing of monetary value to be sued for. Oh, and in case you are wondering, I don't use a beta. That means I have to accept responsibility for all of my mistakes...darn!

The episode is Shooting Stars, just in case you want to revisit it. Please review. I need nourishment.

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It was a clear October night when they were called to a scene on the edge of the desert. A couple named Copeland had been awakened by a group of bedraggled, dirty people breaking into their house to steal food. Normally such a call wouldn't get the attention of Captain Jim Brass or CSI, but the group had left a dead body behind. So Brass, Gil Grissom,, and Catherine Willows were investigating.

Brass talked with the Copelands while Grissom and Catherine processed outside. Catherine stood by as David performed the examination of the body for the cororner's office. Brass walked out to her, sharing what little the Copelands had to tell. "Where is he?" Brass asked. Catherine motioned toward a spot outside the fence. Brass made his way over.

As he approached, Grissom spoke, "The Orionid meteor shower. You never get a view like this in town."

Brass looked up. " Hmm. So, uh, is this part of the investigation?"

"No. But we're here, and it's beautiful." Grissom continued looking at the show wishing that it wasn't Brass standing next to him. His mind envisioned another, someone who would add to the beauty of the experience. But it was Brass and they had a case. His attention turned back to the earthly scene as he turned his flashlight on, pointing the light to the ground.

"Footprints going in both directions. They came and they went."

Brass looked at the footprints. "So dump the body, raid the refrigerator."

"Maybe they had an appetite for murder."

Turning away from the cruelty of the scene on Earth, Grissom and Brass both looked up at the sky.

Dawn had finally broken while the CSIs were processing the scene. Grissom had gone back to the footprints outside the fence. Spotting him there Catherine jumped over the fence and joined Grissom on the other side. He was staring out at the desert. Looking at him and then at the desert, Catherine commented. "It's a big desert."

"About 25,000 square miles," he replied feeling that great a distance between the two of them. Even though she stood just a foot or two away, he felt the distance...he wanted her closer.

She looked at him curiously, wondering what was going on in that head of his now. He seemd so far away. "And the nearest town is Pahrump. That's about 30 miles from here."

Grissom showed her his canteen. In his usual gentle but leading manner he offered, " But I got water. We can share." He headed out into the desert.

Catherine followed, "Who are you today, Moses?" Taking out her phone, she dialed. Talking into the phone she said, "Yeah, Jim, uh ... Grissom and I are going to take a little walk," she chuckled.

Grissom and Catherine continued walking into the desert following the tracks as they lead them farther and farther away from the house. Watching the ground, Grissom commented, " I count five distinct treads: boots, shoes, sneakers. Drag marks are
always right in the middle -- thin, parallel lines."

"The vic's shoes were scuffed at the toes, so he must've been dragged, " she observed. Catherine found a candy wrapper caught on a branch. "Well, whoever they are, they like junk food."

"Who doesn't?"

A little later, Grissom asked as they walked, "You ever seen the Pyramids?"

" Does the Luxor count? Eh, what do you think? I haven't even been to New York."

Grissom spoke wistfully, "I'd like to see the Pyramids one day."

With a little sarcasm in her tone Catherine said, "Keep walking, we could come upon them today." Grissom smiled. "So you like archeology, huh?" she continued.

"Oh, yeah. Whenever I want to feel small."

They spotted smoke ahead. Following the lead, they found an underground bunker with eleven dead bodies. Nick arrived to help process. Grissom found letters in another room, one that belonged to the leader of the little cult. The letters were responses to requests from the members for money. The letters would help them locate the next of kin as well as provide evidence in the case. Buzzards were spotted and Catherine and Grissom went to investigate. They found a car with the a DB. Further invetigation revelaed that he was Josepth Diamond, the cult leader. Brass had tracked doen the identity of the original DB at the Copeland house; Ty Bentley was the boyfriend of one of the girls in the bunker, Emma. Autopsy revealed that the eleven had ketamine in their systems. Warrick was investigating where they might have procured it.

The body count was thirteen...too many in Grissom's view. One was too many. But so many...sometimes it all seemed so pointless. This case was beginning to get to him. The close proximity to her through it all wasn't helping. More and more he wanted her in his arms; she would make his world make sense...make the sadness go away. He couldn't go there though...they were collegues and office romances hardly ever worked out. So they just remained friends, which had been good enough until now but he wondered how much longer it would be. There was already tension between them...how much longer could he hide his deeper feelings?

The families helped them identify who the twelfth person in the bunker might be. Warrick, following the ketamine trail identified her also, one Abigail Spencer. Brass went to her house. She took off but he trailed her and caught up with her just as she passed out. Grissom interviewed her at the hospital. The mental and emotional damage from her experience was depressing. He finished the interview and left, needing to talk to Catherine. She knew how to make the sadness go away. Just being with her always helped.

He made it to his car before he called her. "Cath..."

"Gil...you finished at the hospital?"

"Yeah..."

"Pretty bad, huh?"

"Yeah," he said in a defeated tone.

"She still waiting for the mother ship?"

"Kind of...what a waste."

"Yeah...wanna come by for a drink?"

"Sure. You already home?"

"Pulling into the drive now."

"Okay...I'll be there soon."

Her front door was ajar. Opening it, he called into the house.

"In here, Gil...come on in," she called from the kitchen.

He found her there, fixing a snack to go with the drinks. He watched as she moved around. She was wearing a slight smile as she focused on her task. A tight fitting blue V neck top conformed to her torso, leaving very little to his imagination, but enough to keep him guessing. The blue color set off her eyes. And her jeans...he loved her in jeans, what they did for her tush. Watching her tush was one of his favorite pasttimes. She turned and caught his perusal, smirking at him. He knew he was caught and his eyes slowly made their way up to her eyes. He saw her amusement and decided maybe she didn't mind too much that he liked to admire her in that way.

"Well, I was fixing a snack but you seem to have other items on your menu," she teased.

Her tease flustered him. Usually he could come up with a come back but not today. He just wanted to hold her, feel her close. He needed her too much...

Her expression grew more serious. "Gil, you usually have some retort...are you okay?"

He blinked and then stood frozen. He shouldn't have come... He closed his eyes, fighting back his impulses and trying to center himself. He felt her movement and when he opened his eyes, she stood in front of him. "Cath..." he said meekly.

"Gil...what's wrong?" Her concern was very evident. He couldn't speak. Her nearness was overwhelming for some reason. He didn't understand...she had been this close before, closer even. But today was so different. While watching the sky he had made a wish...a wish involving her. He wasn't exactly sure what it was he wanted to happen...but the sky was so beautiful and all he could think of was Catherine. And now she stood in front of him and all he could think was that he wanted her. "I...Cath..." his hand went to her face; timidly he touched her cheek.

She stepped into him, her arms wrapping behind him, her body pressing into him as she hugged him. His arms moved around her, keeping her close. Eyes closed, he sighed shakily. This is what he needed...her. After a lifetime of being alone and not particularly caring, and years of simply being friends with her, he found himself in a new place; a place that was alien to him and that left him at a loss. But she had him and he knew he was safe.

After holding him a few moments, she looked up. "What's going on, Gil. I've never seen you like this."

Looking into her eyes he found his voice. "I'm lost Cath...I don't know what to do, what to say."

"Lost? Say or do to who?" Her eyes were full of concern.

"You."

"Me? Gil...what...

Her words were broken by his kiss. He was shy at first, his touch tender, but when she didn't back away he grew bolder, pressing for more. Her lips and her taste were dizzying. He felt his world swirling as he lost himslef in her sensaulity. She responded to him, unsure at first but more confident as he continued. It was a long kiss, one that he wouldn't have ended except his head was spinning.

"Oh" she said simply when he let up. Her blue eyes sparkled as she stared into his. He felt sparklely himself once his head started to clear. He stood, mesmerized as he looked into her sparkles. He saw a tear form in the corner of one of her eyes. His chest heaved as he tried to control his breathing...tried to remember to breath at all. The pounding of his heart was so strong that he thought it would burst and the nerves in his skin were on fire.

He couldn't say a word but she understood him. Her hand stroked his hair behind his ear. The other hand rested over his heart. She looked at his chest as she felt his heartbeat and then her eyes turned back to his face as she smiled, her eyes glistening. "I do that to you?"

His own blue pools were drinking in every facet of her face, thier focus moving all around her countenance. A smile played on his lips as he nodded in the affirmative.

"I had no idea...why haven't you told me before?" He shrugged. She knew the answer by his expression but wanted him to say it. "Gil?"

Swallowing with difficulty, he opened his mouth to speak. Then he closed it. Why was this so hard, he asked himself. Other people share their feelings all the time and survive. Why was it so hard for him? If he backed away now he'd lose herand he knew wouldn't survive that. He tried again. "I was afraid...if I said anything, I might lose your friendship."

"You'll never lose me, Gil...not as your friend. But I think you want more from our relationship...don't you?"

"Cath...just tell me if there is a chance." His expression was pleading, hoping.

"Is that what you want?" She was going to make him say it.

His lips pursed, as they did when he was thinking, and his eyes narrowed. He wasn't thinking, though; he was gathering his courage. He had gone this far; no point in holding back now. "Yes...I do want a chance. I want you , Catherine. I love you and I want a chance with you...for you to love me."

"Yes." She smiled.

"Yes?" The load was lifting from his shoulders and he was beginning to float. "Really?"

"So where do we start?"she asked.

"Dinner...tonight?"

"Dinner would be nice. But you are here now. You really expect me to ..."

He was kissing her again. Once he came up for air, she had one more question. "Where did you learn to kiss like that?"

He smiled. "I'm not a total recluse, you know."

"Really... so what other secrets are you hiding?"

Feeling more confident, he retorted..."that's for me to know and you to find out." His smile was playing on his lips again.

"Is that a challenge?" Her expression was taking on a lusty look.

He grinned roguishly. "What do you think?"

"You're on." The way she looked at him, surveying him and evaluating him in a whole new way, told him that things were about to get very interesting.

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