Sara/Vartann/Catherine.

Set in a world were Catherine and Vartann were together before Sara and Grissom.

This is inspired by the song "Philadelphia" by Parachute.

I hope you all like it, please review.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Like a Gun Shot from Miles Away

Part One

Undeniable heat gripped to the skin of those that had been in air conditioned buildings as they poured out of their work environments on their way to the rest of their lives. Most wore tired smiles as the knowledge that someone or something would be waiting for them as they returned home. A few thought about the beloved significant other the day had forced them to part with. A few more thought about the bottle wine that loitered in the kitchen waiting to be opened. Above them the sun sunk further in the sky creating a glow that felt like a backdrop ideal for the romantics left in the city of sin. Neon glowered in everyone's eye line as a reminder what unfolded during the nights.

Her chest tightened as she stepped out into Vegas air, the city unfolded for miles beyond the spot where she stood. The vastness of the place she called home seemed to sink into her bloodstream turning into anxiety. She attempted to brush aside the thoughts of the people, the places and problems that surrounded her until the dessert.

She took a deep breath letting the dry heat fill her nostrils and then her lungs with her eyes closed attempting to silence the feelings that had all of a sudden become vocal in her body demanding to be let out in a display of tears.

It was the feeling of a hand resting on her shoulder that dragged her unwilling self back to the reality that had built up around her. Bright blue eyes watched her with concern like that she craved from another. He quickly retracted his hand aware of the silence that lingered between them as they awkwardly stood outside of the LVPD crime lab. Her dark eyes glanced up at him as if asking "Why do you care?" her bodyhad involuntarily flinched at his touch. He continued standing there, his hands awkwardly tucked into his trouser pockets, the gold of his LVPD badge glinting in the ever dimming light.

"Drink?" He said clearly cautious of her reaction to his offer.

As she stood before him, scraps of that day reforming in her mind she recalled looking down the barrel of a shot gun the feelings of fear trickling back into her consciousness. She nodded in response to his question realising that she needed something to relieve the stress that had built up over the day about to overflow. The situation the pair had found themselves in had reminded them that life was too short. He led her to his car the both of them keeping an eye out for anyone who may have been watching them. They had both previous learnt the hard way that rumours and gossip spread like wild fire consuming the mental capacities of their colleagues.

The drive was close to soundless apart from the faint remnants of "Duran Duran" from his stereo clinging to the air between them. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat re-adjusting her window for the fifth time attempting to let the breeze remove the trace of guilt from her pores. She shouldn't have been here with him. This was not her place. The seat beside him belonged to someone else. But the harder she tried to make it feel less wrong the more persistent her thoughts became.

Every so often he could cast a glance in her direction to find her looking intently out of the window like as if she were caged and dreaming of freedom. Her dark hair softly curled and stirred in the air that circulated through his car. He thought of how different she was to the woman that normally occupied that seat beside him. Guilt suddenly rushed into his system as he attempted to push aside the thoughts of his girlfriend.

No matter how hard either one of them tried, they were unable to make the situation less wrong, feel less like adultery.

So, as they sat in silence, they both decided to simply just accept the feelings.

He waited for her to climb out of the car and follow him to the rather dingy looking bar they had identified as an ideal spot for the two of them to share a drink. It was not a place they were going to be recognised- they were not likely to run into friends throwing puzzling looks their way as they attempted to think of excuses to justify how they had found themselves together.

No, it was most certainly not a place they were going to be bothered.

The inside of the bar seemed to dimmer than the evening light that had filtered through the clouds down over their city. People seemed to be too busy enjoying the taste of their poison of choice to notice that their vision had been impaired. He ordered two double bourbons and indicated to a quiet corner table. She simply followed his instructions as if she had no other choice.

"Are you okay?" He asked before she had even had the chance to take her first sip. The question caused her to pause for a few seconds as she thought over the answer. She took a sip from the firey liquid that had been placed in front of her and turned to her companion. His blue eyes shined in the muted lighting, his lips were pursed causing his jaw to tighten creating a shadow of the aggressively masculine image of him that she was only ever used to seeing in the interrogation room.

"No." she responded honestly. He simply just nodded taking another sip from his drink not knowing how to react. They both knew why they were there, why they were attempting to have conversation that they had not even processed themselves, but the reality of addressing everyone of their worst fears was suddenly weighing down to their way with words.

"You?" She enquired knowing full well what the answer was going to be.

"No."