This is chapter one of the promised but overdue "Soap Opera" sequel. If you haven't read "Soap Opera" you might want to do so; this will make more sense if you do. I don't own the characters, never made money from them. This has a bit of Grillows as well as a lot of Sandles. Here ya go...

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Catherine's smile was smug as she nibbled on a crisp slice of bacon. "What?" Grissom asked, placing a steaming plate of eggs in front of her.

She shook her head. "Nothing, really. Just... thinking." She laughed at his raised eyebrow. "It's just funny how things turn out. People can be so predictable, yet at the same time they're full of surprises."

"Like Sara."

Catherine nodded. "She's actually the person I was thinking about."

Grissom smiled. "You were right, Catherine. In this particular case I had to hurt her to stop hurting her." He sighed. "I only wish I'd done it sooner."

Catherine took a sip from her very tall screwdriver. "I think things worked out perfectly myself. These last few weeks she's been happier than I've ever seen her."

"She obviously has a man in her life - the hickies on her neck attest to that. Any idea who he might be?"

Catherine smiled wickedly. "Oh, yeah."

"And?..."

"You know him."

Grissom's eyebrows raised. "How well?"

"Very well."

"It's not Sanders." His voice was full of certainty. "Maybe Nick." Catherine shook her head. "She and Warrick can't stand one another. Is he police?"

"Nope. He's one of ours."

Grissom frowned. "Well, Archie and David have girlfriends, and Bobby's married, and I know as much as he'd like it to be it CAN'T be Greg Sanders." He frowned, then awareness flowed through him as Catherine began laughing. "Greg Sanders! How? WHY?"

"Yes, Greg Sanders. How ? He courted her, treated her like a lady, swept her off her feet like he's been wanting to do since the night they met. Why? Well, I doubt any of us can tell why we love who we love. That's one mystery that science can't help us with."

Grissom was still frowning, but the lines of his face had softened. "Bizarre choice on her part, but he clearly makes her happy - a lot happier than I ever could."

Catherine took his hand. "No failing on your part, Gil - you two are oil and water. You aren't compatible. No amount of shaking could make it work."

He snorted, then glanced over at her. "And us?"

She smiled and leaned forward. "Oil and vinegar - a challenging combination, definitely in need of some shaking up, but definitely something worth a try."

Grissom smiled wickedly. "So Catherine, define 'shaking up...'"

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Sara Sidle awakened to the sensation of long, slightly hairy arms surrounding her. She smiled as memories of the previous night flowed over her. If anyone had told her six weeks ago she'd be spending her nights - or days, really - in bed with Greg Sanders she'd have suggested they get professional help. Yet here he was in her bed, where he'd slept every day since they'd become lovers ten days before. She'd been afraid he'd suffocate her; instead he was like oxygen, infusing her with life, not sucking it out of her. He had injected himself into every aspect of her life, engulfing her with his warm presence, and she was happier than she could remember.

She ran one finger over his cheek, and he responded by pulling her even closer. "I love you," he whispered into her neck, then sighed sleepily. She swallowed hard. He'd never said that before...